INFLAMMATION OP THE LIVER. 269 



INFLAMMATION OP THE LIVEB. 



Hepatitis, or iuflamraation of the liver, does not generally 

 exist as a primary affection, though it is frequently found as a 

 sympathetic one, being not uncommonly connected with epi- 

 demics, or epizootic diseases, particularly in that which is known 

 to horsemen as pink-eye distemper. 



The most common cause of this disease is a fullness of blood, 

 or a plethoric condition of the system, in consequence of which 

 too much blood is sent to the liver ; want of exercise, and too 

 high feeding, particularly with corn, are also causes of inflam- 

 mation of this important organ. 



The symptoms of this disease are more obscure than those 

 of any other part, and the difficulty is materially enhanced by 

 the inability of the animal to assist us with his tongue. Still, 

 by close observation we can trace the symptoms with such a 

 degree of accuracy as to render our treatment almost a cer- 

 tainty. The mouth and breath are hot ; the extremities cold j 

 the membrane lining the eyelids highly injected, presenting an 

 orange-red appearance; the pulse rises from seventy to one 

 hundred or more a minute, and is soft and full ; the appetite 

 lost; the animal looks wistfully and deploringly at his sides; 

 lies down, but gets up again directly; the respiration at times 

 is perfectly tranquil, at other times slightly disturbed, and at 

 others again very much disturbed, and distressing to the ani- 

 mal — so that, in fact, the amateur cannot be governed by this 

 symptom, — there is usually much tenderness of the right side; 

 and the dung small, hard, and generally dark-colored. 



In the acute stage the animal is generally in a state of 

 plethora^ in consequence of which a small quantity of blood 



