DISEASES OF THE LIVER, 737 



in some cases ox gall. It must, however, be understood that 

 no permanent benefit may be expected if the jaundice be due to 

 cirrhosis or the degenerations. The animal will, however, con- 

 tinue to perform moderate work, provided it be properly and 

 carefully dieted. 



In jaundice from reabsorption, the cause of obstruction 

 must be inquired into. If it be due to catarrhal inflam- 

 mation of the mucous membrane, purgatives, more especially 

 in the horse, are contra-indicated, the constipation of the bowels 

 being more safely removed by mild aperients, such as four-ounce 

 doses of the sulphate of magnesia, or half a pint of linseed oil 

 administered daily until the fseces become pultaceous. The 

 debilitated state of the liver — which sometimes remains after 

 acute attack, and in which the organ performs its functions 

 irregularly, sometimes secreting inordinately, at other times 

 scarcely secreting at all ; the inordinate secretion being charac- 

 terised by bilious purging, some portions of the fasces being 

 coffee- coloured, tinged with altered bile ; and the non-secreting 

 condition by clay-coloured faeces with foetor — is to be over- 

 come by tonics, more especially iron, cinchona bark, or quinine, 

 and a carefully regulated diet. Should the animal indicate, by 

 licking the walls or grinding its teeth, that the stomach and 

 bowels are in an acid condition, great relief will be afforded by 

 the antacids, lime water, or the carbonates of soda or magnesia. 



It may be observed that the cause of obstruction wiU, if long 

 continued, induce such organic changes in the liver itself as to 

 destroy its secretory function ; hence we find in such diseases 

 as the " rot " in sheep that the biliary acids are not present in 

 the urine towards the later stages. 



In dogs suffering from jaundice and ascites, elaterium, by 

 inducing watery stools, often gives temporary relief, and pro- 

 longs the life of the animal. 



Necrotic Abscesses are rather frequently found in the liver 

 particularly in the livers of young cattle. They rarely give 

 any indication of their presence during life, the animals dying 

 apparently from some mysterious cause. They are either 

 isolated or, rarely, in groups, and are often supposed to be 

 tubercular, but upon microscopic examination the tubercle 

 bacilli are found to be absent, and there is no appearance of 

 successive growths, as in tuberculosis. Each abscess is sur- 



o B 



