JAUNDICE. 213 



reservoir. The ox occupies a loncc time in filling his paunch, and it is only 

 during rumination that the food passes into the true stomach to be digested. 

 The meal of the dog is speedily swallowed. They need a gall-bladder to 

 contain the bile, which continues to be secreted when it cannot be used: 

 but to the horse, so frequently eating, it would be useless. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER 



Is a disease of rare occurrence in the horse. He is not exposed to the causes 

 which produce that complaint in other animals. Although his food is some- 

 times highly nutritive, the work which is exacted from him prevents it from 

 unduly stimulating this important organ; and when inflammation of the 

 liver does occur, it is with so much difficulty distinguished from that of 

 the bowels, that if yellowness of the eyes and skin are not present, even 

 the professional man is liable to be deceived. 



Bleeding from, or rupture of the liver, is another disease of old 

 horses^ and especially of those that have been highly fed. It is generally 

 fatal, but of unfrequent occurrence ; it is recognised by the frequent and 

 feeble pulse, the pawing and sighing of the animal, the coldness of the 

 extremities, whiteness of the eye and mouth, fulness of the belly, and 

 speedy debility. A veterinary surgeon is alone competent to give assistance 

 here. 



jaundice. 



Commonly called the yellows, is a more tractable disease, and a little 

 more frequent. It is the introduction of bile into the general circula- 

 tion, and which is usually caused by some obstruction in the ducts or 

 tubes which convey the bile from the liver to the intestines. The 

 horse, however, has but one duct, through which the bile usually flows as 

 quickly as it is formed, and there is no gall-bladder in which it can become 

 thickened, and even hardened into masses so hard as to be very appro- 

 priately called gall-stones. Jaundice does, however, occasionally appear 

 either from an increased flow or altered quality of the bile, or obstruction 

 even in this simple tube. The yellowness of the eyes and mouth, and of 

 the skin where it is not covered with hair, mark it sufficiently plainly. 

 The dung is small and hard ; the urine high coloured ; the horse languid, 

 and the appetite impaired. 



It is first necessary to inquire whether this affection of the liver be not 

 the consequence of the sympathy of this organ with some other part ; for, 

 to a very considerable degree, it frequently accompanies inflammation of 

 the bowels and the lungs. These diseases being subdued, jaundice will 

 disappear. If there be no other disease to any great extent, we must 

 endeavour to restore the natural passage of the bile by purgatives, not 

 consisting of large doses, lest there should be some undetected inflamma- 

 tion of the lungs or bowels, in either of which a strong purgative would 

 be dangerous ; but given in small quantities, repeated at short intervals, 

 and until the bowels are freely opened. Two drachms of aloes, and one of 

 calomel, given twice every day, will be as much as can at all times be 

 administered with safety. Bleeding should always be resorted to, regu- 

 lated according to the apparent degree of inflammation, and the occasional 

 stupor of the animal. Plenty of water slightly warmed, or thin gruel, 

 should be given ; the horse should be warmly clothed, and the stable well 

 ventilated, but not cold. Carrots or green meat will be very beneficial. 

 Should the purging, when once excited, prove violent, we should be in no 

 haste to stop it, unless inflammation is beginning to be connected with 

 it, or the horse is very weak. The medicine recommended under diarrhoea 



