ECHINOCOCCOSIS OF THE LIVER. 



283 



seat of the secondary growths. The patients lose appetite, the fteces 

 become foetid, and diarrhoea sets in without clear signs of enteritis. 



Examination of the liver always reveals hypertrophy, and sometimes 

 sensitiveness. The patients rapidly lose flesh, become cachectic, and the 

 proportionate number of red blood corpuscles diminishes. From the 

 normal of six or seven millions the number may fall to one million or 

 less, while that of the white corpuscles considerably increases. This 

 leucocytosis, which accompanies all forms of visceral cancer, enables 

 one to distinguish between cancer and chronic forms of diarrhoeic enteritis ; 

 it must not be confused with leucaemia. Moderately developed ascites is 

 common, in consequence of obstruction in the porto-hepatic circulation. 



Fig. 122. — Poition of pig's liver infested with echinoccocus hydatid, natural 

 size. (Stiles, Annual Report, U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, 1900.) 



The diagnosis of cancer of the liver or biliary ducts is surrounded 

 with difficulty, and the prognosis is extremely grave, because no treatment 

 is possible. 



ECHINOCOCCOSIS OF THE LIVER. 



This term is applied to the development in the depths of the hepatic 

 parenchyma of hydatids of Tcenia ecldnococcus. 



The echinococcus 113 datid is found in man, cattle, sheep, swine, etc. 

 It represents an intermediate stage of development of the echinococcus 

 tapeworm of dogs. Since this parasite develops its larval stage in 

 man also, and further, since it is the most dangerous animal parasite 

 found in man, it is important to thoroughly understand its life history 

 in order to guard against infection. 



Adult stage {Tccnia echinococcus). 



