DISEASES OF THE LIVER, URINARY ORGANS, ETC. 329 



what the trouble is. In fact, it is only by a 'post mortem ex- 

 amination that the most experienced can make a diagnosis, 

 even tolerably satisfactory. Perhaps the following extract 

 from that usually precise and reliable veterinarian, Youatt, 

 will illustrate all that we could wish to say upon the vague- 

 ness and uncertainty which surrounds our knowledge of 

 hepatic diseases : 



" If horses, destroyed on account of other complaints, are 

 examined when they are not more than five years old, the 

 liver is usually found in the most healthy state ; but, when 

 they arrive at eight or nine or ten years, this viscus is fre- 

 quently increased in size ; it is less elastic under pressure ; 

 it has assumed more of a granulated or broken-down ap- 

 pearance ; the blood does not so readily permeate its vessels, 

 and, at length, in a greater or less quantity, it begins to exude, -d' 

 and is either confined under the peritoneal covering, or 

 oozes into the cavity of the belly. There is nothing, for 

 awhile, to indicate the existence of this. The horse feeds 

 well, is in apparent health, in good condition, and capable 

 of constant work, notwithstanding so fatal a change is taking 

 place in this important viscus ; but, at length, the peritoneal 

 covering of the liver suddenly gives way, and the contents 

 of the abdomen are deluged with blood, or a sufficient quan- 

 tity of this fluid has gradually oozed out to interfere with the 

 functions of the viscera. 



" The symptoms of this sudden change are pawing, shift- 

 ing the posture, distension of the belly, curling of the upper 

 lip; sighing frequently and deeply; the mouth and nostrils 

 pale and blanched, the breathing quickened ; restlessness, de- 

 bility, fainting, and death. 



" On opening the abdomen, the intestines are found to be 

 deluged with dark venous blood. The liver is either of a 

 fawn or light yellow, or brown color, easily torn by the 

 finger, and, in some cases, completely broken down." 



Hemorrhage of the character above described, when it is 

 checked before the animal suffers much from it, is said to 

 produce the genuine gutta serena of professional occulists, that 



