88 DISEASES OF THE SOLID ORGANS OF THE ABDOMEN. 



F&TTY Liver. 



The term is used to denote a morbid condition of the liver increased in 

 size by the excessive accumulation of fat, sufficient to interfere with the 

 healthy action of that organ. Observation has shown that the quantity of 

 fat contained in the livers of dogs is influenced by the diet, and a large quan- 

 tity may be accounted for by that which is taken in with the food. Fat is 

 however found in the body independently of that which is introduced by 

 the stomach as experimental observation has proved. Oily matters must 

 essentially enter to some extent into the composition of the food, in order 

 to maintain the animal in a good condition. 



All flesh and vegetable substances contain more or less fats which are not 

 transported into the body to be deposited there unchanged. On the con- 

 trary they are altered and used up in the processes of digestion and nutri- 

 tion ; while the fats which appear in the body are in great part of new 

 formation, produced from materials derived from a variety of sources. 



Fatty liver rarely if ever occurs as an independent affection and its im- 

 portance as relates to disease has never been determined. The presence 

 of fats in an abnormal quantity, in the secreting cells of the liver, might 

 by their presence seriously interfere with circulation, and might in ex- 

 treme cases be sufficient to obstruct the bile and occasion slight jaundice. 

 The cause of the disease under consideration is no doubt largely influ- 

 enced by fatty food, conjoined with insufficient exercise; the method of 

 the accumulation of oily matters in the liver being much the same as in 

 the production of the "foie gras" of geese. 



Insufficient material for the study of the disease when it occurs inde- 

 pendently of other affections leaves but an imperfect knowledge of the 

 sj^mptoms. 



Impaired digestion, vomiting, progressive emaciation, loss of strength, 

 and slight jaundice later in the disease, are the common evidences of fatty 

 liver. If the organ is much enlarged the fact can be determined, but the 

 increase in some cases is insufficient to be detected, and it is to be remem- 

 bered that a diminution in size may occur from the accumulation of fat in 

 the secreting cells. 



In the treatment abuses are to be corrected, over eating prevented, fatty 

 food excluded from the diet, exercise insisted upon, and tonics should be 

 given if the need is apparent. 



That starchy food has certain fattening properties is well known; it is 

 not certain however whether the constituents of the same are directly 

 converted into fat, or are first taken up and distributed in the system, and 

 afterwards supply the materials for its production. When the allowance of 

 saccharine matters is restricted, the decrease in weight is more rapid. 



