INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER. 409 



of rliubarb and ipecaciianlia. An emetic in the earl}'- stage (45) 

 will sometimes act like a cliarm, unloading the liver, and thus 

 at once cutting short the congestion, but when inflammation has 

 set in actively it is worse than useless, inasmuch as it aggravates 

 the disease tenfold. 



Chronic hejxititis is more frequently caused by improper food 

 than exposure, and is very difierent in its symj)tonis from the acute 

 form. Whenever the fceces are pale, or dark, or slate-coloured, 

 the apjjroach of this disease may be suspected, and appropriate 

 treatment should be commenced ; but it is not until the liver is 

 perceptibly enlarged, and the dog is evidently out of condition, 

 that it is generally considered to be established, and then scarcely 

 any remedies will be of much service. At this time there is often 

 not only a hard enlarged state of the liver, easily felt through 

 and below the ribs on the right side, bvit also a yielding watery 

 enlargement of the belly, from a collection of serous fluid, which 

 is thrown out in consequence of the pressure on the veins as they 

 return through the liver itself. The skin is " hidebound," and the 

 hair dull and awry ; while, altogether, the dog looks thin and wretch- 

 ed. The treatment consists in the use of small doses of mercury, 

 or podophyllin, according to the state of the liver (1) or (13) ; 

 or sometimes ipecacuanha may be given instead of the mer- 

 cury, in half-grain doses ; but it requires a long time to act, 

 and will only sufiice in very mild cases. The red iodide of mercury 

 may be rubbed into the side, mixed with lard (one drachm to one 

 ounce of the lard), or the embrocation (42) or (43) may be used 

 instead. Gentle exercise may be given at the same time, and 



