AMYLOID DEGENERATION OF THE LIVER. 



Degeneration of basement substance of connective tissue, swollen, trans, 

 parent, homogenous, colored mahogany brown by iodide. In wasting dis- 

 eases, tubercle, cancer, malaria, dysentery, leukaemia, suppuration, ulcera- 

 tion, pleurisy, pericarditis, peritonitis, chronic catarrh, broncho pneumonia, 

 orchitis, biliary calculi, nephritis. Chronic. Lesions : Affected part swol- 

 len, sinks in water, bloodless, clear, smooth, homogeneous, yellowish or 

 reddish gray, under compound solution of iodine becomes mahogany brown, 

 under sulphuric acid, dark violet. Extends from vessel walls to adjacent 

 connective tissue. Symptoms : Of wasting diseases, but not diagnostic. 

 Treatment : Unsatisfactory, directed to causative disease. 



This is a condition in which the basement substance of the 

 connective tissue, and especially of the walls of the vessels, be- 

 comes swollen and composed of a transparent, homogeneous sub- 

 stance, albuminous in character, and which stains of a deep 

 mahogany brown on the application of a solution of iodine. 

 The degeneration is usually associated with severe wasting dis- 

 eases, in the human being with tuberculosis, syphilis, malignant 

 tumors, malarial infection, dysentery, leukaemia, and chronic 

 suppuration or ulceration, especially of the bones. 



In the lower animals (horse, dog, ox, sheep, rabbit, poultry) 

 it has been seen to attend or follow on similar cachectic condi- 

 tions. In the horse it has been seen in connection with the 

 effusions of pleurisy, pericarditis and peritonitis (Rabe), in 

 chronic bronchial catarrh (Fischkin), in chronic broncho-pneu- 

 monia, and dilated right heart (Trasbot), in orchitis, phlebitis 

 and cachectic states (Caparini), and in calculous obstruction of 

 the biliary duct (Burgoin). In cattle it has accompanied chronic 

 nephritis (Bruckmiiller), tuberculosis, leukaemia, etc. In lambs 

 kept in confined stables, though well fed on oats (Werner). In 

 long standing suppurations and in animals fed on distillery swill 

 it has been observed. 



It may last for months or years, and predispose to other dis- 

 orders, functional and structural. It does not, however, interrupt 

 secretion as bile continues to be formed. 



Lesions. The affected part of the liver is enlarged, the entire 

 organ in the horse may amount to 32 lbs. It is smooth and even, 

 though thick and rounded at its inferior border, yet occasionally 

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