410 THE STOCK owner's ADVISER. 



to changes in the substance of the liver, whereby it either be- 

 comes enlarged and softened in structure or hardened and dimin- 

 ished in bulk. 



JAUNDICE. 



Jaundice, or yellows, is a symptom of many affections in which 

 the tissues of the body are dyed yellow. It is, however, very 

 generally spoken of and regarded as a disease of itself. The 

 princij>al symptom is yellowness of the skin. Any disease of the 

 liver may give rise to this jaundice appearance, as over-stimula- 

 tion of the gland by feeding largely and giving but little exer- 

 cise. Suppression or non-secretion of bile in consequence of in- 

 flammation, or functional inactivity of the gland itself, or the 

 presence of any obstruction preventing the passage of bile 

 through the ducts, may result in reabsorption of the coloring 

 matter, which, entering the blood, is carried to all parts of the 

 body. There is a test by means of which one can ascertain 

 whether the conditions are caused by obstruction of the ducts or 

 due to functional inactivity of the gland. Ilarley's test is as 

 follows: Take of acid sulphuric one drachm, loaf sugar a suffi- 

 cient quantity, add two drachms of the suspected urine to the 

 sugar, then add the sulphuric acid slowly. If the trouble is due 

 to obstruction, the mixture will become a scarlet or purple red 

 at the line of contact; but if a brown color be present at the line 

 of contact, proof conclusive is obtained that the trouble is due to 

 suppression. The test is thoroughly reliable. 



Treatment. — If the test reveals functional inactivity of the 

 liver, eight drachms of aloes, with two drachms of calomel, may 

 be administered. In case it indicates obstruction, liver stimu- 

 lants would do harm. 



SCIRRHOSIS. 



Scirrhosis, or induration of the liver, may result from hepa- 

 titis, but it frequently occurs from feeding on damaged food, 

 such as damaged and mouldy hay, or changing from a poor food 



