Hepatic Hemorrhage or Rupture. 499 



its deep black contrasts strongly with the white of the adjacent 

 capsule. When laid open the hepatic tissue is seen to be softened 

 and pulpy, and its dark color forms a striking contrast with any 

 surrounding fatty liver. Any form of degeneration may be 

 revealed on microscopic or chemical examination. Not unfre- 

 quently small clots of blood form under the capsule raising it in 

 the form of little sacs. Such clots are usually stratified indi- 

 cating a succession of small hemorrhages. 



When the capsule is torn, the lesion may extend from one sur- 

 face of the organ to the other, and the edges, smooth, uneven or 

 fringed, are united together by a blood clot. 



In case of hemorrhagic infarcts the lesion usually has a dis- 

 tinctly conical outline corresponding to the vascular distribution. 

 These are especially characteristic of cases supervening on heart 

 disease. 



The volume of the liver is usually increased and the weight 

 may reach 30 lbs, (Schmeltz), 34 lbs., (I/>rge), or even 66 lbs., 

 (Trasbot). 



In other domestic animals analogous lesions are found modified 

 largely according to the size of the subject. 



Symptoms. These may develop instantaneously without any 

 marked premonitory indication. In other cases tenderness on 

 percussion over the liver, stiffness or groaning under sudden 

 movements or turning, arching of the back, hanging of the head, 

 slowness in rising, costiveness, slight transient colics, and even 

 icterus may have been detected on close observation. The symp- 

 toms of actual rupture are essentially those of internal hemor- 

 rhage. The animal becomes weak, or unsteady upon its limbs, 

 perspires, arches the back, and shows a marked pallor of the 

 visible mucosae. The pulse is small, thready, weak and acceler- 

 ated, and the heart beats are violent or palpitating. The percussion 

 dullness over the liver is extended (Weber), the loins become 

 insensible to pinching, and there may be some distension of the 

 abdomen. Dilatation of the pupils, retraction or rolling of the 

 eyes, amaurosis, tremors of the muscles of the neck, lying down, 

 or falling, and general convulsions may precede death. This 

 may occur in a few hours or it may be delayed if the lesions are 

 restricted. In case of survival, coldness and cedema of the ex- 

 tremities and sheath have been observed. The lesser hemor- 



