54 INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER. 



quickened, is rarely hard or full. The bowels are generally consti- 

 pated, though sometimes purging exists. Rumination is usually 

 disturbed, and occasionally altogether suspended. To these will 

 occasionally be added the characteristic symptoms of pain on pressure 

 on the edge of the short ribs on the right side. In acute inflammation 

 of the liver, the most frantic pain has been exhibited ; but this is 

 rarely the case. 



A high degree of fever will indicate the propriety of bleeding, but 

 it should not be carried to too great an extent, but may be repeated. 

 After bleeding, one or two drachms of calomel, with a scruple of 

 opium, and two drachms of ginger, may be given in gruel, and a few 

 hoars afterwards twelve ounces of Epsom salts and half a pint of 

 linseed oil. The calomel and opium may be repeated twice a day, 

 and the purgative also until the bowels are sufficiently operated on. 

 If, however, purging be present from the first, a few ounces only of 

 Epsom salts should be given, but a drachm each of calomel and 

 opium repeated twice a day ; and if the purging continue, the case 

 may be treated as one of diarrhoea. The sides in this disease should 

 be blistered, and setons may also be inserted. 



Inflammation of the liver frequently leaves after it a great deal of 

 weakness, and tonics are clearly indicated. The best medicine that 

 can be given is the following : — 



RECIPE {No. ]3). 

 Tonic Drink.— Take gentian root, powdered, half an ounce; ginger, powdered, one 

 drachm ; epsoin salts, two ounces. Mix the whole with a pint of warm gruel, and 

 give it morning and night. 



No hay, and little corn, should be given in inflammation of the 

 liver; but the diet should consist of mashes and green meat. 



When a beast dies of this disease, all the contents of the chest and 

 the belly will often be found to be considerably afl:'ected. The lungs 

 in almost every case exhibit inflammation, arid there are patches of 

 inflammation in the bowels. 



It has been stated that fat beasts, or such as are in good condition, 

 are very liable to this disease, and particularly those "that have been 

 fed much on oil-cake. It is more frequent in hot than in cold wea- 

 ther, arvd in store cattle that have been over-driven, or worried in 

 woodland pastures by the flies. Sudden change of weather; the 

 exposure to considerable cold, of a well-fed beast that had been well 

 housed, or indeed anything that has a tendency to excite fever, will 

 produce inflammation in an organ that has been over-worked, or is 

 disposed to disease from the undue secretion of bile in the rapid ac- 

 cumulation of flesh and fit. Chronic inflammation of the liver is 

 characterized by symptoms similar but more moderate than those 

 detailed. The debility gradually increases, and death often succeeds. 

 The same treatment should be pursued, with the exception of bleed- 



ing. 



