72 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



bladder may account to a certain extent for his freedom from liver 

 diseases; as overdistentiou of this and the presence in it of calculi 

 (stones) in man is a frequent source of trouble. In domestic animals, 

 as in man, hot climates tend to produce diseases of the liver, just as in 

 cold climates lung diseases prevail. Not only arc diseases of the liver 

 rare in horses in temperate climates, but they are also very obscure, 

 and in man}^ cases pass totall^^ unobserved until after death. There 

 arc some symptoms, however, which, when present, should make us 

 oxaminc the liver as carefuU}^ as possible. These are jaundice (3'el- 

 lowncss of the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, and eyes) and the 

 condition of the dung, it being light in color and pasty in appearance. 



Hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver. — This disease maj- be 

 general or local, and may assume an acute or chronic form. 



The sj/m2?toms of acute hepatitis arc: Dullness; the horse is suffering 

 from some internal pain, but not of a severe tj'pe; constipated and cla}'- 

 colored diuig balls; scanty and high-colored urine; and general febrile 

 s3'mptoms. If Ij'ing down, he is mostly found on the left side; looks 

 occasionall}' toward the right side, which, upon close inspection, may 

 be fovmd to be slightl^^ enlarged over the posterior ribs, where pain 

 upon pressure is also evinced. Obscure lameness in front, of the 

 right leg mostl}^, may be a sj^mptom of hepatitis. The horse, toward 

 the last, reels or staggers in his gait and falls backward in a fainting 

 fit, during one of which he finally succumbs. De/ith is sometimes due 

 to rupture of the enveloping coat of the liver or of some of its blood 

 vessels. 



Causes. — Among the causes that lead to this disease we nuist men- 

 tion first the stimulating effect of overfeeding, particularl}^ during hot 

 weather. Horses that are well fed and receive but little exercise are 

 the best subjects for diseases of this organ. We nuist add to these 

 causes the more mechanical ones, as injuries on the right side over the 

 liver, worms in the liver, gallstones in the biliary ducts, foreign 

 bodies — as needles or nails that have been swallowed and in their 

 wanderings have entered the liver — and, lastly, in some instances, the 

 extension of inflammation from neighboring parts, thus involving 

 this organ. Acute hepatitis may terminate in chronic inflammation, 

 abscesses, rupture of the liver, or may disappear, leaving behind no 

 trace of disease whatever. 



Treatment. — This should consist, at first, of the administration of 1 

 ounce of Barbados aloes or other physic. General blood-letting, if 

 had recourse to early, must prove of much benefit in acute inflamma- 

 tion of the liver. The vein in the neck (jugular) must be opened, and 

 from 4 to 6 quarts of blood may be drawn. Saline medicines, as 

 Glauber's salts or the artificial Carlsbad salt, is indicated. These may 

 be given with the feed in tablespoonful doses. The horse is to be fed 

 sparingl}' on soft food, bran mashes chiefl}^. If treatment proves sue- 



