296 BOVINE PATHOLOGY. 



somewliat obscure. Yellowness of tlie visible mucous 

 membranes and of the skin is considered a diagnostic of 

 derangement of tbe bile-secreting organ, but it is not 

 always so, for it may depend upon the nature of the food, 

 and is constantly present in some of the best breeds. 

 When this organ is inflamed a certain amount of abdominal 

 distension is observable, and the animal flinches, moans, 

 and grinds the teeth, when pressure is applied to the right 

 side over the seat of the liver. Its functions are arrested ; 

 thus, the secretion of bile is not carried on, hence the 

 bowels are torpid and the faeces are dry, scanty, and of a 

 chocolate colour; generally they are thickly coated with 

 mucus. Lying continually on the right side and fainting fits 

 are sometimes present. The milk is yellow and scanty, 

 and its cream thick and ^'ropy." There are occasional 

 colicky pains, and the skin is harsh, staring, and coated with 

 a yellowish-browny matter (which is considered a favor- 

 able sign) . The urine is excessively yellow, and the various 

 mucous membranes are all more or less tinged with the 

 same colour. The respiration is somewhat impeded, and 

 the pulse is soft, weak, and generally frequent. Lame- 

 ness of the right fore limb has not yet been observed in 

 cases of this kind in the ox. The animal is very dull, as 

 in most affections of this organ. 



In Chronic cases, with the generally diffused yellowness 

 and the unthrifty and scurfy state of the skin, and the 

 dry clay-coloured condition of the faeces, there is per- 

 sistent dejection and falling off from condition, a want of in- 

 clination to move. The pulse and respiration are unaffected. 

 In one case of the acute disease the patient was so violent 

 that it was thought he was mad — the head extended, 

 eye fixed, shoulders cold, belly hot, pulse strong and rapid, 

 striking of head against the flank, and endeavouring to 

 bite those around. Here, on Autopsy , '^ the liver appeared 

 withered and dry, as if it had been exposed during several 

 days to an ardent sun.'^ In other cases we may find 

 atrophy of the organ, the areolar elements (Glisson^s 

 capsule) having been increased in size at the expense 

 of the more important secreting part. Sometimes the 



