DISEASES OT THE LIVEB. 137 



Ordinary congestion of the liver, especially wlien it has become 

 chronic, leads to enlargement and softening of the organ, known as 

 hypertrophy of the liver. It is most often seen in very fat horses, such, 

 for instance, as brewers', or gentlemen's carriage horses which have not 

 sufficient exercise. The liver slowly and gradually augments in size, some- 

 times with no sign of ill health about the animal, until it suddenly bursts 

 its capsule, and death soon follows. 



Softening of the liver is probably due to repeated attacks of conges- 

 tion, and is very difficult of diagnosis. It is said to result in rupture of 

 the liver and death. 



Treatment in such supposed cases can only be prophylactic. Not too 

 high feeding and a proportionate amount of exercise. High and overfed 

 horses with plenty of flesh and sleek coats are those most predisposed to 

 all liver troubles. 



The liver may also become the seat of tubercular and cancerous 

 deposits. The bile ducts may likewise be obstructed by calculi, when the 

 same symptoms are evinced as in congestion and inflammation. 



The existence of any such organic change, though its exact nature 

 may not be discovered during life, is indicated — but often very obscurely 

 — by the same symptoms as those previously described under the head of 

 temporary functional derangements. 



Treatment. — In the early stage o_ organic diseases of the liver, there 

 is often great difficulty in diagnosing it. There is frequently only a 

 passive state of congestion. If detected, the treatment will be the same 

 as that recommended for congestion. In extreme cases of hypertrophy, 

 an external enlargement may possibly be observed. Percussion may aid 

 in forming a correct opinion. In many cases, however, the disease 

 creeps on insensibly and without any well-marked symptoms to a very 

 serious extent. 



When any change of structure has taken place, complete restoration 

 is not to be expected; but the further progress of the disease may often 

 be checked for a length of time by keeping the bowels moderately open 

 by means of saline laxatives, careful feeding, and exercise. The iodide 

 of potassium and carbonate of sodium are useful in reducing the excessive 

 action of the organ. Tonics are also beneficial iu assisting it to regain 

 its tone. 



