THE HORSE IN SICKNESS AND DISEASE 359 



calomel should affect the mouth, in which case give only 

 once a day. Should the looseness increase on this plan, 

 add powdered opium, a drachm to each ball. In all cases 

 of yellows a change of food is proper, and generally 

 necessary. In winter, spear the corn, or give carrots ; in 

 summer, soil, or give green grasses ; but in such case 

 avoid exposure to the night air, making use of moderate 

 clothing so long as the calomel is continued. 



ENLARGEMENT OF THE LIVER. 



Unnatural enlargement of the liver sometimes takes 

 place. It is swollen to two or three times its natural size ; 

 it presents an appearance of general congestion ; it becomes 

 gradually filled with a black, bloody fluid. The progress of 

 this variety of liver disease is uncertain, generally slow, and 

 almost invariably fatal. 



The symptoms are an enlarged and tense abdomen; 

 the bowels sometimes constipated, at other times re- 

 laxed; there is sometimes considerable thirst; the pulse 

 is accelerated to 100 or more, loud and thumping, and 

 easily mistaken for a primary affection of the heart. 



Tiie most effectual treatment will consist in a cautious 

 administration of laxatives, accompanied by diuretics and 

 counter-irritants. To this tonics may succeed. In my 

 opinion the ioduret of iron, in doses of half a drachm, two 

 or three times every day, would be preferable to any other 

 medicine. 



One post-mortem examination presented the liver about 

 three times its natural size, and consisting of a mass of 

 coagulated blood. 



RUPTURE OF THE LIVER. 



As there is no curative treatment for this lesion, we shall 

 dwell on it briefly. The age, and habits, and condition of 

 horses disposed to this accident are such as conduce to and 

 indicate some morbid condition of the liver. Enlargement 

 and degeneration of substance alike conduce to rupture. 

 In fact, we know nothing about it until the subject of it 

 comes to die, perhaps from ruptured liver, and we find the 

 gland clay-coloured, softened, and so rotten in texture that 

 it will hardly bear handling without falling to pieces. 



