DISEASES OF THE LIVER. 733 



from what at first appeared a slight attack of colic, or from 

 some sudden or violent exertion. Death does not always 

 immediately occur from rupture, as it would appear that the 

 liver may become repeatedly ruptured without the occurrence 

 of a fatal haemorrhage. So long as Glisson's capsule remains 

 intact, the haemorrhages are not fatal ; and even rupture of the 

 capsule itself, when limited in extent, is not always followed 

 by immediate death. In a case mentioned by Mr. Siddal 

 (Percivall, vol. ii.), a horse had been ill, and subject to frequent 

 fainting fits for upwards of three weeks before it died, which 

 appeared afterwards to have been caused by small ruptures of 

 the peritoneal coverings of the liver in different places, from 

 all which it rallied, not sinking until the grand rupture had 

 happened. I have met with cases which, remaining dull and 

 off their feed after an attack of colic, have suddenly sunk ; and 

 post mortem examination has revealed the existence of several 

 small ruptures, and the final one, of larger size, from which 

 several gallons of blood have escaped into the peritoneal cavity. 

 "When small ruptures occur, the haemorrhage becomes arrested 

 by coagulation of the escaping blood ; this may become encysted 

 by the formation of a fibrous membrane round it, the extra- 

 vasated blood becoming shrunk by absorption of its fluid parts, 

 collections of fine crystals of haematin being left. 



The symptoms of approaching death are, fainting fits ; violent 

 colicky pains ; the animal breathing heavily, looking round to 

 its right side ; there is rapidly increasing pallor of the mucous 

 membrane ; coldness of the mouth, and of the body generally ; 

 dilatation of the pupils ; tlie animal propping itself on its limbs, 

 or by the side of the stall ; and a running down pulse. If these 

 symptoms be preceded by yellowness of the mucous membrane, 

 by tinged urina, or clay-coloured faeces, they are diagnostic that 

 the haemorrhage proceeds from rupture of the liver. 



Causes. — The causes which induce softening and disorganization 

 of the liver are identical with those inducing congestion, namely, 

 stimulating food, or want of sufficient exercise ; and animals which 

 die from this lesion are generally fat and sleek in the coat. 



It is stated that the liver may become ruptured by kicks or 

 blows and severe exertion. This seems to me, however, very 

 improbable, without there being a previous disorganization of 

 the organ. 



Fast mortem appearances. — On cutting into the abdomen a 



