CONGESTION OF THE LIVER. 425 



which take place in the liver of the human being have 

 been known to take place in that of the horse. But the 

 horse, leading a more natural life than man, very naturally 

 suffers less frequently from this class of diseases than man. 

 Diseases of the liver are hard to diagnose correctly. In 

 post-mortem examinations we find well-marked signs of liver- 

 disease, in many cases where no symptoms were presented 

 during the life of the animal. The general causes of liver- 

 disease are : feeding the animal for a long time on a highly 

 stimulating diet, hard work, exposure to cold and heat, etc. 

 If the lungs or heart are impaired, the liver also becomes 

 affected to a certain extent. Derangement of the liver 

 also ogcurs in many cases as a symptom of other dis- 

 eases. 



Congestion of the liver occurs as a symptom of other 

 diseases, as mentioned above. When occurring in conse- 

 quence of functional derangement of the heart and lungs 

 passive congestion of the portal and hepatic veins exists ; 

 besides which, there may occur arterial congestion. It is 

 most common in hot climates, and in horses that are pam- 

 pered, and, having little to do, are fed upon food of a 

 stimulating character. 



Si/mptoms. — Affections of the liver are diffieult to diagnose 

 correctly, but the general symptoms of hepatic disease are 

 usually well marked. In congestion the attack occurs 

 rather suddenly, the animal becomes duller than usual, the 

 bowels are observed to be in a disordered condition, and 

 are perhaps alternately constipated and loose. Generally 

 there is diarrhoea at the beginning of the attack ; this is 

 followed by constipation, the patient may have pretty 

 severe colicky pains, and invariably turns the head towards 

 the right side, the pulse is soft and weak in character, and 

 all the visible mucous membranes are found to be of a 

 yellowish tinge. 



