INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER. 579 



is the result of exposure to cold and wet, which ever organ of the body happens to be the weakest 

 at the time of such exposure, will be sought out, and become the seat of disease. Thus the same 

 causes may produce hepatitis in one dog, and rheumatism in a second, bronchitis in a third, and so 

 on. Probably a good many of the cases of hepatitis we meet in this country are caused by blows 

 or kicks. These would be the exciting causes, the primary being errors in diet and exercise. 



Pathology. The capsule of Glisson, or encasing membrane of the liver, may be the seat of 

 inflammation, in which case symptoms of pain will be more manifest, and fever will run higher. 

 Or the inflammation may and more commonly is confined to one or more portions of the 

 substance of the liver itself. There will then be, first, simple darker redness of the organ, with 

 turgescence of its vessels, afterwards exudation of lymph, which may end in suppuration and 

 abscess, or be re-absorbed. 



Symptoms. As we should naturally expect, we will find all the symptoms of inflammatory 

 fever, with some degree of swelling in the region of the liver and considerable pain and tenderness. 

 This pain is often manifest when the dog gets up suddenly to seek the open air. He will 

 frequently be found lying on his chest in dark corners, on cold stones perhaps, and panting. His 

 eyes are heavy and dull, his coat stares ; he is dull himself, is frequently sick, with loss of appetite 

 and very high temperature of body. About the second or third day jaundice supervenes the 

 symptoms of which will be considered presently. Very highly-coloured and scanty urine is 

 another symptom ; and often there is considerable dyspnoea, especially indicative of inflammation 

 of the upper portion of the liver. 



The bowels are constipated, of the colour of clay, and of great and sour fetor. 



The disease soon produces emaciation, and often dropsy of the belly. 



Diagnosis. The diagnosis is somewhat difficult. The tenderness and pain in the region of 

 the liver, and the swelling as soon as it can be made out, will help us. The great fever and the 

 recurrence of jaundice make us certain. 



Treatment. We must endeavour by every means in our power to subdue the fever, and get 

 the disease to end in resolution. Bleeding, mercury, and emetics, are never requisite in a case of 

 acute hepatitis. Many a good dog has been killed by such treatment. In this disease sickness is 

 only far too easily produced, and the effects of the pressure of the diaphragm and abdominal 

 muscles during vomiting upon an already inflamed liver, may be better imagined than described. 

 Our treatment must be as mild and palliative as possible. 



Unless, then, there is diarrhoea or dysentery present at the outset, as there might be if the 

 disease were a complication of distemper, we must endeavour to relieve the portal system by 

 alvine discharges. 



B Aloes Barbad. ... ... gr. x. ad 5 ii. 



Extr. hyoscyam gr. ij. ad gr. viii. 



F*- pil j. M. 



This to be given at night, followed up in the morning by a dose of sulphate of soda and 

 magnesia, with a little nitre. 



Give from three to fifteen grains of Dover's powder thrice daily. 



In very acute cases a large blister will be needed to the right side. Mustard poultices, hot 

 fomentations, and a large linseed-meal poultice, will be sufficient in sub-acute cases ; and a 

 little mustard may well be added to the poultice. 



When you have succeeded in subduing the symptoms, and if there be much yellowness of 

 the skin, combined with constipation or scanty foeces, give the ipecacuanha and extract of 

 taraxacum bolus thrice a day. 



