544 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OP THE OX. 



yellowness of the skin and of the eyes, or a certain character- 

 istic mucldiness of complexion on the part of those who suffer 

 from " the liver," too often tells a tale of misery and wretched- 

 ness. 



It seems that a tropical climate brings about disturbance of 

 the functions of the liver in large measure by a certain enervating 

 effect which it produces, as well as indirectly by reason of the 

 disinclination to exertion, or even to such an amount of exercise 

 as is necessary for health. Many persons cannot withstand the 

 great heat, and many have their constitutions permanently 

 damaged by a protracted stay in such countries as India.. 

 The fact is that we English are accustomed to a temperate 

 clime, and though we as a nation have perhaps more power 

 than some other nations of adapting ourselves to altered condi- 

 tions of environment, still many of us are liable to suffer greatly 

 by too sudden or too extreme or too prolonged changes in our 

 habitat. It is scarcely necessary to add that when habits of 

 intemperance in regard to food or drink, or both, are coupled 

 with a want of exercise and the great depression caused by a 

 very hot climate, the results are most disastrous. It is also- 

 well known that major liver diseases in tropical climates are due 

 to a pysemic or septicsemic process resulting from dysentery. 



Similar causes lead to similar results in the case of lower 

 animals ; but, before we go on to discuss the diseases of the 

 liver in oxen, we will say a few words about that structure itself.. 

 The liver, the organ which secretes the fluid known as the bile, 

 is large in the ox. It is situated in the belly, on the right side, 

 between the third stomach and the diaphragm. Those who 

 wish to understand clearly the anatomy of the organ should 

 repair to a slaughter-house, and gain the opportunity of seeing, 

 the structures in situ. They should read up the subject first in 

 some good book, and then go and look at the structure itself. 



By so doing, if they are good observers, they will readily 

 understand and rapidly learn more than pages and pages of 

 mere description could teach them. The liver is divided into 

 two main divisions, of which the right is larger than the left.. 

 The liver of the ox, like that of man, the dog, and so on, but 

 unlike that of the horse, is provided with a gall-bladder, a bag- 

 like receptacle in which the bile is stored u.p,.in order that it may 

 be used at the needful times. It is closely attached to the liver,. 



