CHAPTER XX. 

 DISEASES OP THE LIVER. 



I. CONGESTION OF THE LIVER. II. HEPATITIS, OR INFLAMMATION OP THE LIVER 



(ACUTE OK CHRONIC). III. CEROMA, Oil FATTY UEGENEKATION. IV. CIR- 

 RHOSIS, OK FIBROUS IJEGENERATION. V. JAUNDICE, ICTERUS, OR YELLOWS. 



VI. BILIARY CALCULI, OR GALL-STONES. VII. HVFERTROFHY.- VIII. ATRO- 

 PHY. IX. SOFTENING, OR RAMOLLISSEMENT, WITH RUPTURE. 



Diseases of the liver in the lower animals, are not as common as in the 

 human family, but they are met with occasionally, and their effects are 

 plainly visible. The other organs of the body necessarily suffer when 

 there is inactivity of the liver, since its functions are very important, 

 both in eliminating impurities from the blood, and in secreting the bile 

 that largely contributes to maintaining the health of the bowels. 



Certain marked symptoms are common to all diseases of the liver, 

 viz : yellowness of all the visible mucous membranes, dullness of spirits, 

 languor, and loss of apj)etite. When the bile is secreted too abundantly, 

 the foeces are bright yellow, with either diarrhcBa, or a tendency that 

 way ; and when the bile is scanty, the foeces are of a gray, ashy color, 

 hard and very offensive to the smell. Again, when the liver fails to secrete 

 its customary quantity of urea, the latter is thrown back into the sys- 

 tem, with especial detriment to the kidneys, giving rise to congestion of 

 those organs or azoturia, (which see). The principal diseases of the 

 liver, in the horse, are enumerated in the heading of this chapter. 

 I. Congestion of the Liver. 



This is engorgement of the hepatic blood vessels, and, in a secondary 

 manner, is accompanied by engorgement of many of the other internal 

 organs, Its subjects are commonly high fed, pampered, idle aninials. 

 It is frequently a symptom of influenza, from obstruction of the flow of 

 bile, caused by inflammation of the lining membrane of the bile ducts, 

 which, in turn, is simply one manifestation of the general catarrhal 

 inflammation of the mucous membranes of the whole body. 



How to know it. — In addition to the general symptoms of hepatic dis- 

 ease, mentioned in the second paragraph of this chapter, there will be 

 some colicky pains ; turniiig of the head towards the right side ; high 

 brownish color of the urine ; constipation ; clay-colored fceces; an offen- 

 sive smell to both foeces and mouth ; and grinding of the teeth. Some- 

 times, there is also lameness in the right fore-shoulder, and more or less 



fever. 



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