Catarrhal Icterus {Jaundice) in Dogs. 479 



of cases ushered in by a gastro-duodenitis. In this connection 

 it is interesting to quote the remark of Pfuhl that 26 out of 27 

 persons using the foul baths of a given establishment contracted 

 icterus, while the soldiers bathing in another branch of the Elbe 

 entirely escaped. 



The fact that icterus usually sets in several days after such an 

 exposure, whether in man or dog, indicates a period of incuba- 

 tion, and thereby sustains the theory of infection. 



Symptoms. In the majority of cases, gastro-enteritis consti- 

 tutes the first step of this affection and the early symptoms are 

 characteristic of that disease. Frequent vomiting, at first of 

 food, and later of a glairy fluid which may be discolored by bile, 

 redness of the tongue,_ especially along its margins, bloodshot, 

 watery eyes, lying down with the nose on the right side of the 

 abdomen, or standing with the abdomen tucked up and the back 

 arched, halting movements of the limbs, wincing if manipulation 

 is made of the spine or the epigastrium, elevated temperature, 

 accelerated pulse and breathing, anorexia and perhaps purging, 

 mark the onset. So long as the liver is unaffected prostration is 

 not a marked feature. 



Even when the liver is invaded, a fair measure of life and activity 

 may often be retained so long as the kidneys remained sound and 

 active. The bile pigments and salts, and the toxins generated 

 by the invading microbes are alike eliminated in large part in the 

 urine, and the profound poisoning and prostration of the nervous 

 system are in a measure prevented. In many cases therefore the 

 urine is strongly jaundiced without much or any discoloration of 

 the mucosae and in such cases the prospects are usually good for 

 an early and complete recovery. It must not, however, be in- 

 ferred that such a happy issue will always follow, as the pigments 

 are by no means as toxic as are other hepatic products and fatal 

 results may ensue with very slight jaundice of the tissues. 



As a rule, however, the jaundice of the tissues (eyes, nose, 

 mouth, white portions of the skin) is to be accepted as a grave 

 manifestation, indicating either an excessive" production and ab- 

 sorption of bile, or a suppressed secretion through the kidneys, 

 or both. Then the poisoning by biliary salts and bacterial toxins 

 is shown in profound dullness, prostration, muscular weakness, 

 indisposition to rise, moving stiffly and only when dragged by 



