FUNCTIONS OF THE LIVER. INFLAMED LTVER. OJ 



The clystering, and other remedies recommended in cases of inflammation, 

 should then be employed with assiduity. Lastly, employ the tonic system 

 recommended, generally, in all inflammatory cases, at page 69. 



DISEASES OF THE LIVER. 



L INFLAMMATION. 2. THE YELLOWS, OR JAUNDICE. 



When we consider the vast active functions the liver has to perform, in 

 cleansing the blood which takes its passage through it, and the secretion of 

 bile, that becomes more obnoxious as this organ is more diseased, we ought to 

 feel surprise that so large an animal as the horse has so few ailments spring- 

 ing out of that source, rather than lament the frequent existence of this one. 

 For, the two names set down at the head of this article, agreeable to the gene- 

 ral practice, have only one origin, viz. inflammation; but diflfering as to the 

 amount of heat, and situation of the evil, which is scarcely distmguishablo 

 until after death. The symptoms of both are the same, and the first attack 

 ever becomes the most lasting, if the remedies be delayed, or wholly neglected. 



Having been led to enter somewhat at large into the causes and remedies 

 for certain affections of the liver, while describing its structure and functions 

 in the first book, p. 49, I shall find less occasion to add much more at this 

 place. The reader will of course turn to that page. 



Catise of inflamed liver. — Inflammation of the liver does not very often 

 take place as a primary aflfection, but more frequently participates in the dis- 

 ease of some of the adjacent organs, as the stomach, bowels, &,c. and accord- 

 ing to the acuteness of the inflammation, an increased or diminished secretion 

 of bile is the immediate consequence. The blood, in passing through the 

 liver, acquires a portion of this extra heat, which reproduceth more at its next 

 passage through it, more at the next, and so on, until the inflammation of the 

 whole liver is completely eflfected. Increase of the bile or gall proceeds in the 

 same ratio, until the gall duc^, that communicates with the small gut, is closed 

 by the uncommon heat of the inflammation, or by the thickening of the gall, 

 or by both operations united, no matter which. At any rate, the bile which 

 ought to be conveyed away by stool, is returned into the system, and occasions 

 yellow skin — whence the vulgar name. When this occurs, I apprehend the 

 inflammation lessens, but the communication with the bowels does not always 

 return to a healthy state, though I believe it to be partially the case. Indeed 

 constipation in the first instance often obstructs the passage of bile into the 

 bowels, and thus increases the evil. Over-feeding has the same effect, and 

 both produce slight temporary yellowness, which goes off upon the removal 

 of the cause; generally followed by diarrhoea. The feverish symptoms also 

 which accompany the commencement, also pass off, leaving a low, irregular 

 pulse, until the bowels resume their wonted course, either naturally, or by the 

 aid of medicine. 



Sijmpto7ns of inflammation before yellowness comes on. — As this last and 

 surest indication of diseased liver only appears when the evil is a confirmed 

 one, and is extremely difficult of cure, particularly in old animals, we should 

 assiduously set about ascertaining its commencement, so that the remedy may 

 be promptly employed, and a further procrastinated mischief be timely pre- 

 vented. And the more so, seeing that what constitutes a remedy in lit earliest 

 stages is no longer so after a time has been spent in delay. 



Whenever inflammation, or extraordinary action of the kidneys, or of the 

 diaphragm, has lasted some time, in ever so small a degree, in that degree wiU 

 heat or inflammation attend the hver. It enlarges upon the accession of this 

 heat, visibly so when this has continued a while, but may be previously ascer 



