Diagnosis. Treatment 509 



flammatory lesions about the portal fissure cause a more lasting 

 and serious condition. 



Diagnosis. In view of the fact that jaundice is merely a 

 symptom of various organic diseases, the cause of the engorge- 

 ment with, or absorption of bile must be thoroughly investi- 

 gated. 



Treatment. As a rule good results follow treatment similar 

 to that adopted in gastric catarrh (see page 291). 



In addition to careful regiilation of the diet, from which 

 all fat is rigorously excluded, the administration of a course of 

 neutral salts is advisable. For dogs a 10 per cent lukewarm 

 solution of Carlsbad salts may be employed. Frequent flush- 

 ing of the rectum with large quantities of water has a bene- 

 ficial effect. In order to dilute the l)ile and to stimulate the 

 contractions of the gall bladder, bile ducts and the intestine, 

 Cozessa advises the subcutaneous injection of pilocarpine in 

 doses (for dogs) of 0.005 to 0.01 gm., followed by two or three 

 doses of 5 gm. of potassium tartrate. Mild purgatives, such 

 as calomel and aloes, are indicated where there is constipation, 

 and in cases in which there is oliguria diuretics such as lemon 

 juice and potassium acetate or nitrate. According to Siedam- 

 grotzky, faradization of the liver is beneficial (!). Horneck 

 has had good results from the intravenous infusion of physi- 

 ological salt solution. 



Literature. Balas, A. L., 1907, 17.— Bierthen, D. t. W., 1906, 481 (Lit. on the 

 chem. demonstration of bilirubin). — Chieriei, N. Ere, 1908, XIII, 420. — Kohnhauser, 

 Monatssohr. osterreich. Tzte., 1881, 84.— Latschenberger, O. Z. f. Vk., 1887, 47.— 

 Siedamgrotzky, S. B., 1883, 17. 



Icterus Neonatorum. New-born animals, especially calves and 

 foals, sometimes show symptoms of jaundice a few days after birth and 

 exceptionally they are diseased at the time of birth. Sometimes the 

 jaundice disappears together with the derangement of digestion in 

 the course of a few days. In the majority of cases the animals quickly 

 become exhausted and very soon die. Hartmann, who frequently 

 observed the disease in the Babolna Stud, advised the administration 

 of magnesium carbonate and rhubarb. 



The cause of the condition is unknown. Hartmann 's view, that 

 the jaundice results from inflammation of the umbilical veins, may 

 be correct in rare instances. Probably there are several factors in the 

 production of the disease. In the first place an extensive destruction 

 of red blood corpuscles may lead to a condition of pleiochromia, (see 

 page 506). Secondly, some of the bile-pigments which are not decom- 

 posed in the intestine may be al)Sorbed into the branches of the portal 

 vein and pass directly by way of the ductus Arantii into the posterior 

 vena cava, and thence into the general circulation. The venous con- 

 gestion due to debility and imperfect respiration must also be taken 

 into consideration (Birch-Hirschfeld, Johne). 



French authors (Levrier, Bernadin, and others), have described 

 a disease of mules, and Dieckerhoff, a disease of foals, which is an acute 

 infectious malady complicated with jaundice and not uncommonly 

 with hematuria. It is not impossible that this is a severe pyemia and 



