282 DISEASES OF THE LIVER. 



that the disease occurs in old cows, which after parturition show loss of 

 appetite, polydipsia, fever, dyspnoea, and short, feeble cough, suggesting 

 pneumonia. After a few days the animals appear extremely weak, 

 remain lying for long periods, and exhibit icterus. Percussion of the 

 liver detects abnormal sensibility and hypertrophy. 



The three cases seen by Moussu showed only slight yellowness of the 

 membranes, general weakness and difficulty in walking, which at first 

 glance appeared to suggest laminitis, marked hypertrophy of the liver, 

 sensitiveness over the hepatic region, and, as complications, uncontrollable 

 diarrhoea and peritonitis. But these symptoms are also noted in suppu- 

 rating echinococcosis, and even in cancer of the biliary ducts, so that 

 diagnosis does not appear easy. Nevertheless, there is always marked 

 fever, and on post-mortem examination it is not unusual to find, in 

 addition to the hepatic lesions, a certain amount of perihepatitis, partial 

 peritonitis, and even pleurisy in the region of the diaphragm. 'Ihe 

 question is of little practical importance, for the gravity of the disease 

 just described is such that economically no treatment is possible. The 

 great point lies in correctly diagnosing disease of the liver, and that is 

 relatively easy. 



CANCER OF THE LIVER AND BILE DUCTS. 



Cancer of the liver, that is, broadly speaking, the development in the 

 liver of malignant tumours, capable of becoming generalised throughout 

 the organism, is comparatively rare when compared with parasitic 

 diseases of the same organ. It may be primary or secondary in 

 character, but is much more frequently secondary. In bovines primary 

 cancer assumes the forms of adenomata, trabecular epitheliomata, or 

 adeno-carcinomata. Moussu describes a case in which the growths 

 assumed the form of papillomata or adeno-papillomata extending 

 throughout the biliary ducts, and partly obstructing the common bile 

 duct, which was greatly dilated. 



The real cause of these, as of all other primary tumours, remains 

 shrouded in mystery. 



Secondary cancer is more frequent ; it occurs usually in the form 

 of little isolated tumours (nodular cancer) of varying size and greyish 

 colour. 



Symptoms. Clinically the description, or rather the identification, 

 of cancers of the liver is difficult, and the diagnosis particularly trouble- 

 some in cases of primary cancer. 



In secondary cancer (following tumour of the testicle in oxen castrated 

 by the method of bistournage, for example) the general condition, on the 

 other hand, is usually so affected that attention is pointedly drawn to the 



