DISEASES OF THE DIGESTi/E URGAM 211 



FcNCTioNAL Disease of the Liver (Jaundice or Ykllows). 



The liver, like other parts of the digestive apparatus, is lia'')le 

 to become deranged, in either function or structure, by errors in 

 diet, Avhich is the most potent cause of both functional and cr- 

 garic disease of the same. In almost all cases of liver disease, 

 we observe a yellow tinge of the visible surfaces — membranes of 

 the eve and mouth. In order to account for the yellow tinge, we 

 must bear in mind that bile is formed in the blood ; that the office 

 of the liver is to absorb or withdraw it from the circulation con- 

 stantly, as fast as it is formed. Disease of the liver, simulating 

 jaundice, manifests itself whenever the due separation of the bile 

 from the blood is not accompli (hed ; hence the accumulated bile 

 seeks other outlets, namely, the kidneys and intestines, and ex- 

 cretorv gland of the skin. 



When animals become jaundiced suddenly, we may infer that 

 the difficulty, whatever it may be, in the liver, is of an acutt 

 character: that is to say, it is recent in origin and active in form. 

 Jaundice is a phenomenon of several diseases peculiar to horses. 

 During Ihe progress of the epizootic known as influenza a jaun- 

 diced state of the visible surfaces is always present, which disaj)- 

 pears when the patient convalesces, showing that the liver is only 

 functionally deranged. When jaundice accompanies indigestion, 

 and disappears under the action of alteratives or changes in diet, 

 we may also infer that, if not absolutely functional, it is, at least, 

 not purely inflammatory. 



It is plain, therefore, that jaundice is of but little consequence 

 in prognosis, since the symptoms with which it is often associated 

 declare, much more positivdy than itself, thegravity of the allection 

 in M hich it occurs as a symptom. It sometimes happens, however, 

 that the function of the liver becomes suddenly intermitted, causing 

 pain, after the fashion of what accompanies the bilious colic of man, 



Ths following case will prol^ably give the reader some idea of 

 tho nature of acute functional disorder of the liver. The patient, 

 B gray gelding, aged nine years, was suddenly attacked with symp- 

 totus of colicky pains, for the relief of which the owner had given 

 a colic drench, which seemed to afford temporary ease; but soon 

 the symptoms reappeared, the animal got down, and seemed to be 

 the subject of acute pain. Undor these circumstance?, the owner 

 ■ent for nir. 



