DISEASES OF THE SOLID ORGANS OF THE ABDOMEN. 91 



conditions which give rise to the affection. The discharging duct or canal 

 leading from the gall-bladder enters into the intestine near the stomach; 

 in sub-acute inflammation of the mucous membrane lining these parts, 

 the irritation is liable to extend into the duct and cause its lining to become 

 swollen, the passage closing and becoming obstructed, it being too small 

 to admit of much swelling and remain open. The prognosis in such cases 

 is favorable. If a gall stone becomes lodged, recovery will depend entirely 

 upon its passage into the intestine or backward up into the gall-bladder. 



When death occurs in jaundice from the retention of bile, the liver is the 

 seat of serious disease. When permanent obstruction exists without seri- 

 ous structural changes elsewhere, life may be prolonged and nutrition 

 sustained for a long time; sooner or later however, the vital powers fail, 

 the body wastes, exhaustion follows, and death results. In severe cases 

 terminating fatally the disease runs a rapid course, the duration generally 

 being from three to five days. 



2'reatment. —It is to be remembered that in the majority of cases jaun- 

 dice is due to a sub-acute inflammation of the stomach and adjoining 

 portion of the intestine, and the natural tendency of the disease is to 

 recovery. In diet and medication all influences calculated to add to, or 

 prolong the irritation must be studiously withheld. Unless the urgency 

 of symptoms demands a more vigorous treatment, a bland and digestible 

 diet with gentle laxatives will suffice. 



Calcined magnesia should be given in teaspoonful doses in milk two or 

 three times daily to keep the bowels active. All fatty food should be 

 withheld, and milk and gruels largely be depended upon. If pain exists 

 opiates should be employed. 



The attacks which occasionally occur resembling colic, are at times due 

 to the formation of gas ; by the absence of bile the contents of the intestines 

 are no longer influenced by its antiseptic property, decompose and gas is 

 generated. 



In severe attacks of jaundice in which the constitutional symptoms 

 indicate gravity, the need is urgent and the treatment must be energetic 

 and immediately applied. The animal should be placed in a warm room, 

 it being remembered the skin must be protected from cold, lest its elimi- 

 native functions be destroyed, and one avenue through which the bile can 

 be thrown out of the system be closed. Calomel is the agent most to be 

 depended upon, and should be given in doses of one half a grain each, four 

 times a day. Rather than combine the calomel with laxatives it is wiser 

 to give them separately and only as the need is apparent. Hot baths if 

 needed will increase the activity of the skin, and sweet spirits of nitre in 

 one half teaspoonful doses, given in water every two or three hours, stim- 

 ulates the kidneys. Food should be milk, eggs, scraped beef, and broths. 



