734 SPOEADIC DISEASES. 



large quantity of a semi-coagulated dark-coloured blood will be 

 found in the peritoneal sac ; the tissues of the body are blanched, 

 and generally intermixed with much fat. With regard to the 

 liver itself, it is found to present two pathological conditions : 

 first, highly congested, enlarged in every direction, its vessels filled 

 with dark semi-fluid blood, and its tissues with much serosity. 



Now and then various parts of it present a peculiar mottled 

 appearance, the centre of the lobules being of a dark red colour, 

 whilst their peripheral portion is of a yellowish-white; this 

 condition constituting what is generally termed the " tme nutmeg 

 liver." Sometimes tlie organ has acquired the e^ormous weight 

 of sixty pounds or more. 



In the second form, we find that the liver is not so greatly 

 enlarged as in the first, its capsule presents a peculiar slate- 

 coloured tint, and the w^hole organ may be of the same hue, 

 or stained deeply yellow. Both the gland substance and the 

 capsule are friable, easily reduced to a pulp if touched with the 

 finger, and having more the consistence and appearance of moist, 

 bluish, or yellowish clay than of an organized structure. 



Whilst horned cattle, and particularly sheep, are liable to 

 suffer from disorganization of the liver, they seem to escape 

 fatal termination by rupture. Sheep, however, die in great 

 numbers from liver disease about the period of parturition; 

 sometimes without presenting any symptoms of liver disease, or 

 of any disease whatever; sometimes an?emic, and occasionally 

 with well-marked symptoms of jaundice. 



It is impossible to account for these varieties in the symp- 

 toms when the pathological conditions of the organ are identical ; 

 and we can only accept them as facts which further researches 

 may throw light upon. 



Treatment. — This can be only prophylactic. An inquiry into 

 the causes will show that the errors which lead to the gradual 

 disorganization of this organ are those of improper feeding. In 

 the horse and ox, food highly charged witli nutritious elements, 

 and mixed, or but slightly mixed, with that of a coarser nature. 

 In sheep, as already pointed out, food containing saccharine, and 

 but little nitrogenous materials, as when they are fed exclusively 

 upon turnips. 



It is therefore necessary, in order to prevent these various 

 alterations of structure, that the proper dieting of animals should 



