THE MODERN HOUSE DOCTOR. 173 



however, in horses : they seem to enjoy, to a certain extent, im- 

 munity from a disease which appears to have a greater affinity for 

 the livers of their masters; or else we have not been smart 

 enough to detect it in our patients, having noticed but a few iso- 

 lated cases. The most of the symptoms noticed in this affection 

 do not differ materially from those noticed in jaundice ; other 

 local signs are required, how r ever, to make out a case of acute 

 hepatitis ; these are, pain in the hepatic region, extending to the 

 right shoulder, so that the patient is lame in the off limb, unsteady 

 in his gait, and evinces signs of pain on our pressing in the above 

 region. The pulse is strong, skin hot and dry, slight cough, loss 

 of appetite, and dull, sleepy look. For consecutive symptoms and 

 treatment, see Jaundice. 



When the disease is located in the serous covering of the liver, 

 it is called hepato-peritonitis. The treatment does not differ 

 from that for the preceding disease. 



Softening, condensation, and tubercles are the result, in some 

 cases, of a chronic form of hepatitis ; for the demonstration of 

 these states during the subject's life our diagnosis is all at fault, 

 and therefore it is useless to write any thing about the treatment, 

 other than to inform the reader that the author's remedies for the 

 cure of diseases of the liver are, mandrake,* soap, and carbonate 

 of soda. 



* Medical Properties of Podophyllum, (Manarake.) — Podophyllum, when 

 administered to man, is an active and certain cathartic, producing copious 

 liquid discharges, without much griping or other unpleasant effect. Its opera- 

 tion resembles that of jalap, but is rather slower, and is thought by some to be 

 more drastic. It is applicable to inflammatory affections, which require brisk 

 purging. The common names by which this plant is known are May apple, 

 mandrake, &c. It grows in almost all parts of the United States. 



From our own experience in the use of the article, we can safely recommend 

 it as an efficient cathartic ; very permanent in its operation, generally leav- 

 ing the bowels in a soluble condition. It seems to have a peculiar action 

 on the liver, and when given to a horse, in repeated doses of from one to two 

 drachms, every twelve hours, operates in the same manner as when calomel is 

 prescribed; though less liable to do harm, in the hands of the inexperienced, 

 than the latter article. In this view, we term mandrake " the calomel of the 

 physopathist." Its range of application, however, is more extensive than that 

 of calomel. It may be used as a substitute for aloes, whenever an active 

 cathartic is indicated, in doses of from four to seven drachms, in the form of 

 drench. We have frequently used it as an aperient, in inflammation of the 



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