DISEASES OF THE LIVER. ;qi 



cl potassa, soda and ammonia being especially good. Bitter 

 and other tonics are often valuable in counteracting that impair- 

 ment of tone which favours congestion and swelling of the 

 stomach, intestine, and liver, otherwise the treatment must corre- 

 spond to the nature of the cause when that can be ascertained. 



CONGESTION OF TPIE LIVKR. 



This is common in horses in warm climates, where luxuriant 

 grasses (plethora) and hot seasons strongly predispose. Hence, 

 in the Southern States of x'Vmerica, and especially in localities 

 which are moist as well, and where malarious emanations exist, 

 it may be looked for, but it is also seen in pampered idle animals 

 kept in hot close stables anywhere. Rich food and the compara- 

 tive absence of waste by exercise and breathing throw too much 

 labour on the liver, which is rendered liable to clogging and 

 cono^estion. Among the immediate exciting causes may be 

 named sudden changes of temperature, emigration from a cold 

 to a warm damp region, chills in cold dewy nights after hot 

 days, sudden exertion when unfitted for it by long rest and bad 

 condition, exertion under intense heat of the sun, and blows on 

 the region ot the liver, particularly on the young. Venous 

 congestion from imperfect action of the heart-valves is a cause 

 of hepatic congestion, at once predisposing and exciting. 



Symptoms. — These strongly resemble the severe forms of 

 poisoning, by imperfectly elaborated liver products, the two 

 conditions being often co-existent and mutually dependent on 

 eacir other. There are the sudden prostration, dull sunken 

 eyes, pinched anxious face, excited breathing and pulse, tremb- 

 liv:.C", swaying limbs, perspiration, sighing, and violent colicky 

 pains with frequent looking at the flank, lying down and rising. 

 Striking the last ribs with the fist causes flinching, groaning, or 

 even attemj^ts to kick or bite, and some jaundice and furring of 

 the tongue are often seen. When fainting ensues, this with the 

 pallid mucous membranes, and quick, weak pulse, imply rupture 



