156 ENTOZOA FOUND IN MAN. 



occur, in consequence of the debilitated condition of 

 the patient. In several cases, a strong predisposition 

 to gangrene, or to hoemorrhage, has been observed in 

 various parts of the body. 



Hydatids of the liver do not very often produce 

 jaundice, and when this phenomenon occurs it is usu- 

 ally due to one of three conditions, viz., more or less 

 extensive inflammation of the substance of the liver, 

 obstruction of the biliary passages by the vesicular 

 vp-orms, or the compression of the tumour upon the 

 ductus communis choledochus, or one of the larger 

 branches of the hepatic duct. It is probable that 

 jaundice would also come on if the bihary ducts and 

 the veins communicated with the cyst, as the bile 

 might thus find its way into the veins, and into the 

 circulation. 



If the tumour presses upon the principal venous 

 trunks which are in relation with the liver, oedema of 

 the lower extremities, or even serous effusion into 

 the peritoneal cavity, may result from the impedi- 

 ment to the circulation. 



The presence of an hydatid cyst sometimes gives 

 rise to acute inflammation of the hepatic tissue, ter- 

 minating in suppuration ; this inflammatory action is 

 produced either by the rapid growth of the cyst, or 

 by its having attained to a large size. It may also 

 occur in consequence of external injury, such as 

 blows, or after operations performed for the purpose 

 of evacuating the cyst. 



It is extremely difficult to correctly diagnose a 

 small hydatid cyst in the liver ; but when it is of - 

 large size, the existence in the right hypochondrium 

 of a well-marked, smooth tumour, which has grown 



