334 INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER. 



same as just detailed, with this exception, that the external 

 stimulants need not be so hurried on, or so general. More- 

 over, one dose of purgative medicine is ample. The opium 

 and calomel need only be administered thrice per day, and 

 then carefully watched, for salivation is to be much feared 

 when created in cattle. If the purgation continues after 

 this purgative, and two or three doses of calomel, try some 

 of the astringent drinks, one of which will be found at the 

 end of the article of Dysentery in the horse, and others 

 under the heads of Rot in cattle. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER. 



Acute hepatitis is not a frequent occurrence in veterinary 

 practice, for the liver of the horse is but seldom primarily 

 affected with inflammation ; though, w^hen other great 

 abdominal inflammations take place, then this gland often 

 participates ; in which cases the only difference shown by 

 the symptoms is a yellow tinge in the conjunctival, nasal, 

 and buccal membranes. 



The chronic or torpid state of the disease which is very 

 common among high-fed, and slightly-worked carriage and 

 brewers' horses, may be unsuspected till the animal is sud- 

 denly seized with gripes, or otherwise shows signs of 

 being seriously ill. These symptoms are caused by the 

 rupture of the fibrous case of the liver, called Glisson's 

 capsule, and the escape of blood into the peritoneum or 

 serous covering of the huge gland. It is then almost too 

 late to try calomel. A few days' quiet, and a dose to open 

 the bowels, will be all that can be ventured ; and the horse 

 is returned to its owner, with a caution to work him gently 

 and feed him sparingly for the future. Such cautions, 

 how^ever, are rarely long attended to. Nevertheless, the 

 peritoneum stretches, and at the same time thickens in 

 substance, containing, and at the same time restraining, the 

 fluid that is poured into it. Another rupture in time takes 

 place, and the same measures are repeated ; however, the 

 peritoneum at last gives way. If the rent should be large, 

 the animal may suddenly fall dead. If small, he is sent to 

 us apparently labouring under a severe fit of colic, but the 

 dilated pupil, the inabiUty to bear the head lifted up, and 

 the tinge of all the visible membranes declare the truth ; for 



