DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 53 



iary duct. In constipation there is an inactive or torpid condition of 

 the bowel, and the bile which passes into the intestine may be absorbed 

 and cause the yellow staining of jaundice. Jaundice is one of the 

 symptoms of Texas fever and depends on the congested condition of the 

 liver existing in that disease. It may also arise from the presence of 

 parasites or gallstones in the ducts, forming a mechanical obstruction 

 to the onward flow of bile. It may also arise from injury to the nerv- 

 ous system impeding the functions of the nerves supplied to the liver 

 and checking or diminishing the secretion of bile. This form of jaun- 

 dice is, so far as we know, unknown in cattle. The conditions under 

 which jaundice most commonly calls for treatment are when cattle have 

 been highly fed and kept in a state of inactivity. At such a time there 

 is an excess of nutritive elements carried into the blood, which is asso- 

 ciated with increased fullness of the portal vein and hepatic artery. 

 When continued high feeding has produced this congested state of the 

 liver the functions of that organ become disordered, so that a consider- 

 able portion of the bile instead of being excreted and passing into the 

 intestine is absorbed by the hepatic veins. 



Symptoms. This disease occurs most frequently among stall-fed cattle. 

 Pressure along the margin of the short ribs on the right side produces 

 pain ; the appetite is poor and the animal shows hardly any inclination 

 to drink; the mucous membranes of the eye and mouth are yellow, the 

 urine has a yellow or brown appearance, the animal lies down much 

 and moves with reluctance, moans occasionally and has a tottering gait. 

 The ears and horns are alternately hot and cold; in cows the secretion 

 of milk is much diminished, and that which is secreted has a bitter 

 taste ; sometimes the animal has a dry, painful cough and presents a dull, 

 stupefied appearance. 



Treatment. In such cases it is advisable to produce a free action of 

 the bowels, so as to remove the usually congested condition of the portal 

 vein and liver. For this purpose we recommend the administration of 

 the following dose: Sulphate of soda, 1C ounces; fluid extract of tar- 

 axacum half an ounce. The sulphate of soda is dissolved by stirring 

 it up in 2 quarts of tepid water. The extract of taraxacum is mixed 

 in with it, and the mixture should be administered at one dose. When 

 a purgative effect has been produced, a dram of sulphate of ciiichonidia, 

 half an ounce of fluid extract of taraxacum and an ounce of spirits of 

 nitrous ether may be shaken up in a pint of water, and given night and 

 morning for several days in succession. This treatment may be assisted 

 by giving occasional injections of warm water and soap. The diet 

 should be laxative and moderate in quantity, and may consist of coarse 

 bran mash, pulped roots, grass in the season and hay in moderate quan- 

 tity. 



HEPATITIS INFLAMMATION OF T1IK LIVER. 



This is a more advanced stage of the disease already described. I lep- 

 atitis is frequently restricted to a special part of the liver, and the 



