526 Suppurative Hepatitis. 



9. Suppurative Hepatitis. Hepatitis suppurativa. 



{Embolic liepafifis.) 



Etiology. Suppurative hepatitis is usually a metastatic 

 lesion. The pyogenic bacteria, responsible for its prockictiou 

 (streptococci and staphylococci), reach the liver either by way 

 of the arterial blood or by way of the portal vein. In cases wliere 

 the infection occurs by way of the portal vein, the source of the 

 infection is gastro-enteritis, and especially when there is ulcera- 

 tion or necrosis of the mucous membrane (enterogenous abscess 

 of the liver [Joest] ). Other causes are suppuration of the spleen, 

 intestinal wall or mesenteric glands and, finally, disintegration 

 of thrombi in the umbilical vein in new-born animals. According 

 to Schumann, the abscesses in the livers of calves are associated 

 with suppurative inflammation of the navel (omphalogenous ab- 

 scess of the liver [Joest]). Pyogenic bacteria may gain access 

 to the liver by way of the blood stream in an}^ severe inflam- 

 matory condition, but especially in strangles, ulcerative en- 

 docarditis, and gangrenous pneumonia. Infection may occur by 

 way of the bile ducts, owing to necrosis and inflammation of 

 the walls, caused by gallstones, foreign bodies (ears of grain, 

 sand) or animal parasites, the infection then spreading to the 

 liver tissue. 



Injuries to the liver are most connnon in cattle and are 

 usually due to the penetration of foreign bodies from the stom- 

 ach, injuries from the outside, such as horning, may have the 

 same results. Pyogenic bacteria may be introduced into the 

 liver in this way or the liver tissue may be liroken down, and 

 any bacteria circulating in the blood may localize there. 



Filially, suppuration is frequently caused by echinococcus 

 cysts, tuberculosis and actinomycosis. In these cases the pri- 

 mary condition is of special importance. In nodular necrosis of 

 the liver there is sometimes liquefaction of the necrosed tissue, 

 leading to the production of abscess-like lesions, which differ 

 from the true liver abscesses in that they contain only structure- 

 less debris. 



At the Budapest slaughter house durinor a period of 5 years suppurative 

 hepatitis was found in 0.2Vr of slaughtered cattle and in 0.097© of calves. Lisi 

 founil numerous abscesses in the livers of lambs. 



In the tropics abscesses in the liver are of very common occurrence and are 

 very often associated with enteritis. The disease has been observed by Smith in 

 India and by Griflfault in the Sudan. 



Anatomical Changes. The liver contains numerous ab- 

 scesses, varying in size up to a nut. Their contents may be 

 creamy or dry and crumbling. The color varies from yellow or 

 reddisli to green. Occasionally the pus has an offensive odor. 

 In suppurative hepatitis of umbilical origin in calves, the ab- 

 scesses are principally found in the left lobe, on account of the 



