DISEASES OF THE BLOOD. " 93 



This state predisposes to certain disorders^ especially those 

 of a low type and a specific character ; even small wounds 

 of anaemic patients may assume an ulcerative character and 

 be very obstinate. Operations are often followed by ill effects. 



Pasturage on heath lands where the herbage has an 

 astringent character and is unnutritious, also feeding upon 

 turnips which contain excess of watery material, may be 

 enumerated as special causes. Treatment must be directed 

 to removal of all causes which can possibly be in opera- 

 tion, by thorough change of diet and most careful nursing. 

 The transition to good food must not be too sudden, and 

 generally the administration of a laxative dose will rouse 

 the bowels into activity, and remove any accumulation of 

 unnutritious matter from them. Salt sprinkled over 

 the fodder will make it more palatable. Tonics should be 

 administered, generally a combination of iron and gentian 

 will be found useful. Heematinic compounds are especially 

 indicated, but care must be taken lest too large doses be 

 giveti at first. Under such treatment the animal will 

 generally be restored to health, but some cases, where the 

 ansemia is due to specific conditions, are incurable. 



The state of the system produced by the ravages of the 

 liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, known technically as ^^ Ca- 

 chexia Aquosa Verminosa,^'' must be mentioned here as 

 consisting in a true ansemia. The early action of these 

 parasites, when they are but few and scattered in the bile 

 ducts throughout the extent of the liver, is one of stimula- 

 tion of that organ, whereby its glycogenic and bile pro- 

 ducing powers are increased, the effect on nutrition being 

 favorable. As these organisms increase in number they 

 cause thickening of the walls of the ducts and dilatation 

 of their passages ; this is at the expense of the true liver 

 substance, and bile production is thus impeded, the ducts 

 become filled with parasites and a viscid bile. Generally 

 at this stage the constitutional power of the animal 

 enables it to withstand this interference with the produc- 

 tion of bile and grape sugar. But this is not always so, 

 for in some years the parasites are so plentiful, and so 

 thoroughly invade the liver substance, as to give rise to 



