JAUNDICE. 407 



all cases of failure in bowel affections, invariably to make a 

 post-mortem examination : and tbis we may do on the ground 

 that repeated cases may enable us accurately to inter- 

 pret symptoms ; then, although we cannot relieve, we may 

 offer such an opinion as will convince our employers it is 

 not our ignorance of the signs, but our circumscribed 

 means, which is the cause of our incapability to afford 

 assistance. 



CHAPTER VI. 



DISEASES OF THE GLANDS. 

 JAUNDICE. 



Jaundice, by farriers called the yellows, as a distinct affec- 

 tion, is unfrequent in the horse, from his hepatic system 

 being without a gall-bladder. As a symptomatic affection, 

 it is, however, more common ; for whenever any great ab- 

 dominal inflammations occurs, the liver is very liable to 

 participate ; bile then passes into the bloodvessels, which 

 thence is thrown on to the skin. Occasionally also a 

 more slow and primary affection of this organ occurs, and 

 the biliary secretion appears either increased in quantity, 

 altered in quality, or obstructed ; when the consequence is, 

 that the evacuations are irregular either in quantity or 

 quality. This state is betokened by listlessness, dyspepsia, 

 irregular appetite, and early fatigue under exercise : there 

 is some biliary suffusion in the membranes of the eyes, nose, 

 and mouth. Most liver affections in the horse, however, 

 excite no attention until they terminate fatally. 



In our treatment of such a case, it is perceived, that we 

 must attempt to produce a healthy action in the liver. To 

 promote this intention (as in the greater number of cases 

 costiveness is present), begin by giving the following: — 



No. 1 . — Calomel half a drachm. 



Aloes two flrachins. 



Powdered gentian two draclims. 



Castile soap two drachms. 



Form into a ball, and give night and morning until 

 the bowels are actively purged ; then continue only so 

 much of the same, for a week or ten days, as will keep 



