54-0 Veterinary Medicine. 



Age is supposed to act by inactivity, lessened secretion, 

 hepatic torpor, and the greater presumption of liver disease, 

 acidity by the precipitation of cholesterine and the dissolving of 

 lime present in the tissues, and constipation throngh hepatic 

 inactivity, obstruction of the flow of bile, and the tendency to 

 infection through intestinal fermentations. 



It may be added that any diminution of glycocholate or tauro- 

 cholate of soda or potash, decreases the solubility of cholesterine 

 and bile acids and favors their precipitation. 



GAU, STONES IN SOUPEDS. 



Characters. The biliary calculi of solipeds are of all sizes and 

 shapes. When numerous they are mostly the size of a pin's head 

 (IyUcet). Birnbaum found in one animal 400 like peas. 

 Dieckerhoff has repeatedly found four or five of the size of a 

 hazelnut. Verheyen found one as large as an apple and says one 

 exists at tha Berlin Veterinary College which weighs several 

 pounds. Rigot found 90 in the biliary ducts of an old horse, 

 and Zundel records the death of a stallion of twenty-six years 

 from multiple gall stones. 



The calculi may be little larger than grains of coarse sand. 

 When larger and solitary they are mostly globular or mulberry 

 shaped ; if many are together they have become polygonal by 

 friction. In other cases notably with distomata they form hollow 

 tubular incrustations on the bile ducts, and contain a thick 

 grumous bile. They are usually of a green color, but may be 

 yellowish brown, yellow, or whitish. When cut across they 

 present a nucleus enclosed in successive layers, each successive 

 one often differing from the last in color. Their specific gravity 

 is low, some will even float in water when taken from the ducts, 

 and all float when dried. Their composition is variable but 

 chiefly cholesterine, bile acids, resin and pigments, an albuminoid 

 matter, with lime salts, etc. The nucleus may be the remains 

 of a dead parasite, epithelial cells, blood, pus, mucus, etc. The 

 outer layers are usually the hardest. 



