Catarrhal Icterus {Jaundice) of Solipeds. 475 



Symptons. In the horse the disease is mostly attendant on 

 subacute duodenitis, and even when this is associated with in- 

 fective catarrh of the biliary passages the kidneys remain mostly 

 sound and active, and eliminate alike the bile pigments and the 

 more toxic matters so that the disease is not often grave. Beside 

 the essential feature of yellow mucosae, and urine, the latter 

 viscous and smelling strongly, there is profound depression, slug- 

 gishness, weakness and somnolence. Imperfect muscular control 

 and even slight paresis may be present. Tardy pulse and breath- 

 ing are at times noticeable. At others these, like the tempera- 

 ture, are normal. The mouth is hot and dry. The urine may 

 be slightly albuminous. The bowels incline to constiveness from 

 lack of their customary stimulus, yet this in turn may give rise to 

 diarrhcea. In either case, as the disease advances, the defeca- 

 tions lose the healthy yellowish brown color, becoming pale and 

 foetid. 



Duration. The attack may last one, two or three weeks, and 

 generally ends in recovery. With irremediable structural lesions, 

 it is of course permanent and even fatal. 



Lesions. The most common feature is duodenitis with thicken- 

 ing around the orifice of the common bile and pancreatic duct. 

 The biliary ducts may be distended and their contents more than 

 usually viscid and glairy from the presence of pus. Their mucosa 

 may show ramified redness, or concretions as casts or calculi. 

 The liver is enlarged, soft and friable giving way readily under 

 the pressure of the finger. Enlargement of the kidneys is usually 

 present, the cortical substance having a brownish red and the 

 medullary portion a yellowish pink hue. 



Diagnosis. The absence of hyperthermia in jaundice, serves 

 to distinguish it from the acute febrile affections (pneumonia, 

 influenza, contagious pneumonia, petechial fever, etc. ,) which 

 are marked by yellowness of the mucosae and skin. 



Prognosis. The merely functional forms of icterus in solipeds 

 usually end in recovery. 



Treatment. The first consideration is a laxative diet. A run 

 at pasture will usually meet every indication. Fresh cut grass, 

 ensilage, turnips, carrots, potatoes, beet, apples, or other succu- 

 lent diet may be given as substitute. Bran mashes and hay cut 

 and moistened may be allowed in the absence of the above. 



