DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 173 



side of the lips, cheeks, etc., assuming a yellowish tinge, and the feces 

 are covered with mucous ; the brain may become sympathetically affected, 

 causing staggers, etc. Another symptom is lameness in the off fore leg. 

 You may meet such a symptom, but do not attribute it to the liver unless 

 the lameness is very obscure. It is said that such lameness has been 

 caused by a foreign body in the liver. There will be a scanty supply of 

 urine, and it may be tinged with bile. 



Treatment. — If the pulse is strong, give a few doses of sedative medi- 

 cine ; but if it is weak, then give stimulants ; also give a moderate dose 

 of laxative medicine ; then give iodide of potassium or nitrate of potash, 

 and improve the system by regulating the diet, and give tonics ; but be 

 careful with purgatives in any case where the animal is debilitated and 

 the appetite gone ; but perhaps a small dose of nitrous ether, and injec- 

 tions are useful. It is more apt to occur in a circumscribed than in a 

 diffuse form, and it may go on to a considerable extent before there are 

 any well-marked symptoms. It is more common in old debilitated 

 animals. 



Jaundice is perhaps the most common disease of the liver. It is often 

 only symptomatic of some other disease. It is symptomatic of any dis- 

 ease of the liver, of inflammation, hardening, calculi, hydated abscesses, 

 etc., and it may prove a sequel of some debilitating disease, as influenza, 

 strangles, etc., by exhibiting a yellowness of the mucous membranes, and 

 of course is jaundice. In man it is of such an extent as to stain the 

 linen of the patient, and may arise from various causes ; it may arise 

 from suppression or obstruction. By obstruction, by closing of the hepa- 

 tic duct, from inflammation of the lining membrane ; obstruction by cal- 

 culi, gall stones, tumours, hydatids, etc. It may be due to closure 

 of the hepatic and common duct, resulting from adhesive inflammation, 

 gall stones being firmly impacted therein, or anything that will obstruct 

 the flow of bile. Another cause is destruction of the hepatic cells, as in 

 trophy and induration of the liver, etc. There are certain tests by which 

 you can form an idea of which of these it is. Take two drachms of urine, 

 add one-half drachm of sulphuric acid and a small amount of loaf sugar 

 — a piece the siae of a pea — and if at the line of contact of the two 

 liquids a scarlet or purple colour is produced, the acids of the bile which 

 are only secreted by the liver are present, and it is due to obstruction. If 

 some of those ingredients which are only found in the liver are absent, 

 then the sugar takes on a brownish appearance, and it is due to suppres- 

 sion. But I do not say this is always a true test. There is yellowness 

 of the mucous membranes, the pulse weak, a furred condition of the ton- 

 gue, the secretions generally impaired, appetite impaired, etc. 



Treatment. — Give a moderate laxative, iodide of potassium, and then 

 tonics. If there is suppression then perhaps there is benefit in calomel, 

 but I do not recommend it in all cases. If the animal is strong give a 

 laxative ; if not, give stimulants ; if in summer give nice green food in 

 small quantities, and carefully use stimulants. The dog also suffers from 

 jaundice ; give a moderate laxative, regulate the diet, and recovery will 

 usually result. 



Rupture of the Liver, — It is occasionally seen in the horse ten or 

 twelve years old, that has been highly fed and exercised but little, and if 

 put to violent exercise, it causes hemorrhage and death. 



Symptoms are internal hemorrhage; the animal falters, shows pain, 

 looks at the sides ; the pulse runs down quickly, perhaps is strong for a 

 few minutes at first ; the mucous membrane becomes pale and blanched, 

 and a post mortem will reveal a rupture of some of the vessels ; perhaps 



