DISEASES OF THE LIVER. 725 



calomel, is contra-indicated, for the reason that the secretory 

 powers of the gland are not interfered with, but that it is in- 

 capable of discharging the secreted bile, owing to the tumidity 

 or swollen condition of the lining membrane of the small bile 

 ducts ; salines and a non-stimulating diet are therefore indicated. 



HEPATITIS, OR INFLAMMATION" OF THE LIVER. 



Hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver, is one of the rarest 

 diseases affecting our domesticated animals, the majority of 

 cases diagnosed as such being probably due to congestion. It 

 sometimes, however, occurs, and cases are recorded where the 

 post mortem examination has revealed the presence of abscesses, 

 transformed exudates, and even ossification of the products of 

 inflammation. 



The inflammation may have its seat in Glisson's capsule, 

 when it is called " perihepatitis," and examinations of old horses 

 slaughtered for dissection point out the fact that this form of 

 inflammation — the formation of false membranes, and the ad- 

 hesion of the liver to the diaphragm — is of no rare occurrence, 

 unaccompanied, however, with any symptoms during life which 

 point to its presence. Even in the human being, perihepatitis 

 is rarely accompanied by serious derangement, unless the in- 

 flammation extends to the portal or hepatic veins, or causes 

 obstruction of the larger bile ducts — events of rare occurrence. 

 — (Frerichs.) In all probability this inflammation of Glisson's 

 capsule accompanies the pleurisies to which the horse is so 

 particularly liable. 



Hepatitis, or inflammation of the glandular structure, may 

 occur in a circumscribed or in a diffused form ; the circum- 

 scribed leading on to suppuration — as in cases mentioned by the 

 late Mr. John Field and others — or to the formation of patches 

 of fibrous tissue, which appear as firm, light-coloured spots scat- 

 tered throughout the organ ; whilst the diffused form induces 

 rapid degeneration of the glandular structure, with softening 

 and atrophy of the organ, or an indurated condition of it. 



In the primary stage of the acute" diffused form, patches of 

 hypersemia occur, the peripheral portions of the lobules being 

 filled with a more or less fluid exudate. The viscus is swollen 

 in proportion to the number and size of the inflammatory patches; 



