318 HEPATITIS. 



affected with this disease are dull and listless ; indicate 

 no severe pain; respiration is not thoracic, but almost 

 entirely abdominal; the skin is harsh, dry, and coat star- 

 ing. The visible mucous membranes have a reddish-yellow 

 colour, and the tongue is furred and dirty. Pulse is small and 

 frequent, but irregular both as to number and character. In 

 some instances it is remarkably slow. The faeces are hard, and 

 often coated with mucus, and when the disease advances the 

 symptoms of jaundice are most marked. In acute liver 

 disease, from a check to the secretion of bile, the excrement 

 becomes white, clayey, and very fetid. The febrile symptoms 

 are sometimes severe, if the peritoneal coat is much impli- 

 cated, and subside when the abdomen enlarges from effusion. 

 Should dropsy thus result, the animal becomes emaciated, 

 and dies within a few weeks. 



Treatment. I do not agree with the recommendation 

 given by Mr Percivall to bleed repeatedly, abstracting, how- 

 ever, small quantities in this disease. Cathartics, and espe- 

 cially aloes, must be relied on, and followed up by frequent 

 doses of nitre. The right side must be blistered, and, if acute 

 symptoms are absent, the following may be prescribed : 



Hydrochlorate of ammonia . . 2 oz. 



Sulphate of soda . . . . 8 oz. 



Powdered linseed . . . . 4 oz. 

 Treacle as much as sufficient to make an electuary. A table- 

 spoonful every two hours. 



PARASITIC DISEASES OF LIVEE. 



The fluke distoma haepaticum infests, to a very great 

 extent, the liver of cattle and sheep. I shall enter into the 

 history of this parasite when I refer to disorders of Nutri- 

 tion, and in the description of Rot in Cattle and Sheep. 



