254 MANUAL OF EQUINE MEDICINE. 



of cane sugar, and afterwards pour in some strong sulphuric 

 acid very slowly. If bile acids be present, there will be first 

 thrown down a white precipitate of cholalic acid, and after- 

 wards the whole of the liquid will become of a deep, beau- 

 tiful purple colour. This reaction is facilitated by gently 

 warming the side of the test tube. 



Treatment. — When jaundice is developed in connection 

 with a specific fever, no special treatment is required, unless 

 the symptoms be of a very pronounced character. 



In other cases the treatment depends upon the cause of 

 the affection. 



In the first place it is necessary to increase the amount of 

 exercise, if this be insufficient, and to restrict the amount of 

 food allowed. 



Mild cases may require no further treatment beyond the 

 occasional administration of saline purgatives, or moderate 

 doses of aloes. 



When depending on hepatic congestion, the treatment is 

 similar to that already described under this aff'ection. 



If jaundice be attended with much debility and languor, 

 vegetable tonics, with doses of nitro-hydrochloric acid, may 

 be given three times daily. 



Besides the remedies already mentioned, chloride of 

 ammonium and calomel, in moderate doses, are also recom- 

 mended in some forms of jaundice. 



Section VII. 

 DISEASES OF THE SPLEEN. 



General Physiological Considerations. — Very little is 

 known of the functions of the spleen. In this organ white 

 blood corpuscles appear to be formed, and red corpuscles 

 to be broken down. The spleen receives an abundant 

 supply of blood, and undergoes considerable changes in 



