77 



balls, made up of two drachms of opium, and one drachm of acetate of lead, 

 with a sufficiency of gentian and treacle, may be given twice daily. Each 

 ball should contain in addition,, twenty drops of carbolic acid. A favourite 

 mixture of ours is one containing sulpho-carbolate of sodium, given with 

 tincture of opium, liquid extract of bael fruit and ipecacuanha. It is the 

 most efficacious combination we are acquainted with. 



Though we have no evidence, as yet, that dysentery owes its origin to 

 the entry of any germ into an already unhealthy and depressed system, it 

 seems not at all unlikely that this is the case. 



DISEASES OF THE LIVER. 



The liver is the largest of all the glands. It weighs in the horse about 

 eleven pounds. It has three very important functions. The li\er of the 

 horse is far less commonly affected by disease than that of man, in whom it 

 is too frequently injured by immoderate drinking. We may remark, 

 incidentally, that if the alcohol were more freely diluted than it frequently is 

 the effect would not be nearly so deleterious, even though the actual amount 

 taken were the same. The IWev is a gland made up of oval portions called 

 lobules, each of which is 1.20th of an inch in diameter, and composed of 

 little branches of the blood vessels, and of the liver duct, the interstices being 

 filled with liver cells. The latter form the secreting part of the gland. They 

 are spheroidal, and contain little nuceli and granules. Sometimes they 

 exhibit slow contractile movements, just as those little animals which are 

 termed amoebai do, or the white blood corpuscles of the blood which are 

 very similar to amoeba,^ and, like them, throw out arm-like prolongations, 

 and then withdraw them again. 



Disease of the liver is very rare in the horse in this country, but is more 

 often met with in eastern countries, especially in India. The usual causes 

 are high feeding, and want of exercise ; while residence in hot, damp climes- 

 also predisposes horses to attack. Lack of sufficient air is also regarded 

 as a cause of this affection. The usual signs of li^•er disease are the 

 same in the horse as in man. Among the most common symptoms presented, 

 are jaundice, local pain in the region of the liver, colicky pains, and persistent 

 pain in the off shoulder. From a comparative point of view, it is interesting 

 to observe how these manifestations of liver disease, correspond with those 

 shown in man, in whom the lameness of the horse's ri£-/i/ forc-liuib is 

 represented by pain in the right shoiildo'. 



In cases of congestion of the liver coming on siidde7ily^ and manifested 

 by jaundice, shown by the yellowish tinge of the white of the eyes, and loss 

 of appetite, coldness of the extremities, and pain over the region of the liver 

 on pressure, it is advisable to abstract blood in moderation, say two or three 

 quarts. The blood-letting should be followed up by the administration of 

 five or six drachms of aloes. The diet should be laxative and restricted in 

 amount. After the aloes is given, sulphate of sodium in four ounce doses with 



