DISEASES OF THE LIVER 



Among the somewhat complex functions of the Hver the most 

 prominent and important is undoubtedly that of the formation of 

 bile to assist in the digestion of food. Phj^siologists have already 

 made some most important discoveries respecting the action of 

 bile, but if we may judge by what has already been brought before 

 our notice concerning the functions of this organ, we can only 

 come to the conclusion that there is much more to be learned than 

 has yet come to light; one very interesting coincidence has been 

 observed by us; the absence of bile is productive of a very irritat- 

 ing form of diarrhoea; the presence of an excess of bile results in 

 a form of diarrhoea that differs from the previous kind by an 

 absence of irritation, by an excess of coloring material and by its 

 peculiar odor; we do not for one moment arrogate to ourselves 

 the ability to explain these differences, we merely state that such 

 is our experience, and we are of the opinion that "much has yet to 

 be learned from the physiologist's standpoint as to the functions 

 of this organ. Horses do not fall victims so readily to diseased 

 liver as do dogs, nevertheless the frequent complications with 

 other forms of disease in which the liver is involved serve to prove 

 how sensitive this organ is and how easily it gets out of order; in 

 the course of this work frequent reference is made to liver compli- 

 cations as evidenced by a yellow condition of the visible mucous 

 membranes, the high color of the urine, and the state of the fasces, 

 we have frequently remarked that were horses and dogs as free 

 livers as men, and included alcohol in their dietary, they would 

 in all probability be the subjects of very decided liver complaints, 

 quite as troublesome, if not more so, as in the human subject; 

 moreover, the relations of the liver with other organs, and its 

 capabilities of influencing them in the performance of their func- 

 tions, are deserving of consideration and attention; among these 

 latter may be mentioned one very curious instance in which a 

 deranged liver has been held responsible for lameness of the ofE 



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