DISEASES OF THE LIVER 151 



INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER 



Inflammation of the liver may be the result of absorption 

 of poisonous products from the intestines. These ])r()(lucts 

 (toxins) lodg:e in the liver, or the inflammation may be due 

 to infection (germs) as in chicken cholera. The irritation 

 causes active congestion followed by a migration of great 

 inimbers of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (white lilood cells) 

 and thrombocytes, constituting inflammation. The liver is 

 enlarged, dark, and easily torn ; it appears very full of blood. 



In many, and in fact most, of the contagious diseases in- 

 flannnation of the liver (hepatitis) occurs. 



The following" case report will serve to illustrate these cases: 



A valuable rooster was sent to the small animal ward of the 

 division of veterinary medicine of the Colorado Agricultural College 

 for treatment. The bird had been sprinkled with some proprietary 

 lice killer and had immediately taken ill. There was a loss of 

 appetite and it had become weak in the legs and remained so till 

 its death. Late in the course of the trouble the bird was not able 

 to stand at all, but lay on its side. It became emaciated and lived 

 only about three weeks after it was taken sick. 



On autopsy the liver was found to be enormously enlarged, weigh- 

 ing 176 grams (normal weight would have been about forty grams 

 for a bird of that size). The surface had a grayish mottled appear- 

 ance. Upon microscopic examination these pale gray, irregular 

 areas proved to be liver areas packed with leukocytes (white blood 

 cells) and thrombocytes — an aggravated case of hepatitis (inflam- 

 mation of the liver). 



Another similar case was brought to the laboratory, except that 

 it did not have the history of having been sprinkled with an insect 

 powder. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE BILE DUCTS 



Angiocholitis and cholec^^stitis are occasionally met with in 

 the livers of birds. A post mortem examination of the gall 

 bladder shows its contents to be rather mucilaginous and con- 

 taining only a small amount of the biliary elements. 



ENTEROHEPATITIS 



This is a disease of turkeys and to a le.ss extent of other 

 birds, which extends from the intestine and involves the liver. 

 It is discussed under diseases of the digestive tract. (See 

 page IIL) 



UNIMPORTANT DISEASES 



Abscesses and tumors of the liver appear to be very rare 

 in chickens and other fowl. Sarcomas and carcinomas (can- 

 cers) of this organ are usually associated with similar tumors 

 of the ovary. 



