DISEASES OF THE BLOOD. 109 



mixing with the serum of the blood, and being eliminated 

 by the kidneys, gives the characteristic tinge to the 

 urinary secretion/^ 



(5) The disordered conditions may all be referred to 

 defective action of the liver, whereby it is rendered unable 

 to elaborate albuminose which is passing from the in- 

 testine, and therefore accumulates in the blood. At the 

 same time congestion of the organ seems to lead to 

 excessive bile production, the superfluous material being 

 removed by diarrhoea until reaction sets in, and then 

 entering the blood, and causing disintegration of blood- 

 corpuscles. Until we are more assured of the condition 

 of the liver in this disease, as also the spectroscopical 

 characters of the blood and urine, we shall not be able to 

 state its pathological nature with full confidence. 



(6) Armatage attributes it in many cases to the icy 

 coldness of a large quantity of frozen turnips introduced 

 into the rumen, and undoubtedly this is one of the ways 

 in which it may originate. Our knowledge of the phy- 

 siology of the liver is hardly yet sufficiently advanced to 

 enable us to understand the complex perversions which 

 occur in such a disorder as this. 



Treatment. — Professor Simonds, who first showed that 

 this is a disease due to alteration in the blood, and pointed 

 out the presence of blood colouring matters and albumen in 

 the urine, considered bleeding advantageous in the earliest 

 stages of the disorder. Certainly the administration of 

 a cathartic is beneficial, it removes from the alimen- 

 tary canal indigestible material which tends to cause 

 irritation. Again, it arouses the liver to activity when 

 this is necessary, and enables it to relieve itself of con- 

 gestion. It follows nature's indication, for a salutary 

 diarrhoea often ushers in a favorable turn of the case. 

 The animal should be nursed carefully, and subjected to a 

 thorough change of diet. The kidneys should be assisted 

 in their endeavours to purify the blood by stimulant 

 diuretic agents. At the same time formation of good 

 fresh blood should be promoted by restorative haematics. 

 Professor Williams, in accordance with his theory of the 



