BILIARY CALCULI. 433 



be good, and of a laxative character. Very little more can 

 be done but to exercise patience, and in course of time the 

 calculi may, and very often do, pass down into the intes- 

 tines, and escape in company with the faeces. 



Liver. — Other conditions of the liver also occur, as 

 ' atrophy,' or wasting of the gland, ' hypertrophy,' or an 

 abnormal enlargement of the liver. Abscesses, tumours, 

 etc., may also occur in connection with the liver; but as 

 these conditions have no well-marked symptoms peculiar 

 to themselves, it is impossible to arrive at a correct 

 diagnosis in all cases. Melanotic tumours occur in con- 

 nection with the liver, and give rise to the general symp- 

 toms of liver disease, as gradual falling off in condition, 

 irregularity of the bowels, a yellowish tinge of all of the 

 visible mucous membranes, etc. If these symptoms occur in 

 a grey horse, particularly one advanced in years, and mela- 

 notic deposits are visible on any portion of the body, the 

 practitioner is generally safe in diagnosing the case as one 

 of melanotic tumour in connection with the liver. 



Treatment. — As a rule, treatment of the conditions above 

 spoken of is useless. The only thing that can be done is 

 to get the^system of the animal in as good condition as 

 possible. The food should be of a nutritive and laxative 

 character. Tonics, etc., may also be tried. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



Diseases of the Spleen and Pancreas. 



CONGESTION OF THE SPLEEN. 



The [spleen is the largest ductless gland in the body. 

 Its functions are not very w^ell understood. Physiolo- 

 gists term it the grave of the red corpuscles, from the 

 fact that large numbers of broken down red corpuscles are 



28 



