Diseases of the Liver and Spleen. 99 



whether it is owing to an incomplete separation of the 

 elements which constitute the bile from the blood, in 

 consequence of the liver not performing its proper 

 function. 



" ' I am inclined,' the author says, ' to the latter supposition, 

 seeing that the icteric colour supervenes principally when 

 there is atrophy of the liver, and also in the adipose liver, 

 and when the substance of this organ has been invaded by 

 the tissue of foreign substance, such as cancerous tumours, 

 it cannot be supposed that in these cases there can be a 

 superabundant secretion of bile to mix with the blood ; it 

 seems infinitely more simple to admit that the function of 

 the gland is insufficient to separate the elements of the bile 

 from the blood, and the liquids and solids are soon pervaded 

 by the icteric tint.' 



" This view, however, the author does not take credit for, 

 as several physiologists have considered the bile as an ex- 

 cremental product. According to M. Colin the bile is thick, 

 which is, moreover, the case also with other secretions. 

 These physiological views seem to be completely borne 

 out by pathological facts ; cons quent on these reflections 

 I have thought it important to search for some remedy that 

 was capable of restoring the function of the liver in jaundice 

 of the dog. The author continues : — 



" After several attempts I fixed on the chloride of mer 

 cury (calomel), the purgative properties of which have been 

 admitted ; but after having administered this drug in pur- 

 gative doses without satisfactory result, I resorted to it in 

 alterative doses, and the results obtained have been beyond 

 my expectation, so that there is no case of true jaundice 

 of the cure of which I despair at present. 



" ' Without, however, pretending to have cured every 

 case, I can affirm that since I am in possession of this 

 remedy the fatal termination of the malady has been very 

 rare ; while before the cures were exceptional, and death 

 the rule; but the method of administration is not a matter 



