Gall Stones in Solipeds. 541 



There may be attendant hypertrophy of the liver, cirrhosis, 

 amyloid and other degenerations, catarrh of the biliary ducts, and 

 distension or (according to Birnbaum) rupture of the portal vein. 



Symptoms. There are no reliable diagnostic symptoms apart 

 from the colics which accompany the obstruction of a bile duct by 

 a passing calculus. These in the main resemble the colic of 

 ordinary indigestion, but they may be complicated by unusual 

 depression and nervous prostration. There may be drooping of 

 the head, ears and eyelids, watery eyes, resting the head on the 

 manger or pushing it agai nst the wall. The urine is liable to be 

 red or reddish (Jobelot), and if it or the mucosas show a yellow- 

 ish tinge it is strongly suggestive. There may be constipation or 

 diarrhoea. The colics are severe and may last for several days 

 (Seaman, L,ucet, Burgoin) without fever and recover abruptly 

 when the stone passes into the duodenum. They recur, however, 

 with the impaction of another stone, and this intermittent feature 

 with the marked prostration, and the access of slight jaundice 

 with each colic furnishes the best means of diagnosis. 



Treatment. During the access of colic give a full dose (1 to 2 

 lbs. ) sulphate of soda in warm water along with some active anti- 

 spasmodic (belladonna, lobelia, chloroform, ether),- and foment 

 the loins and hypochondriac regions. Olive oil in large doses 

 (1 to 2 quarts) has been found effective. Salicylate of soda in 

 full doses is beneficial in stimulating the biliary secretion, diluting 

 the bile, and securing some measure of antisepsis in both bowels 

 and liver. 



In the intervals between the colics, sodium salicylate, sodium or 

 potassium carbonate, or olive oil in continuous doses may assist 

 in disintegrating the calculi or passing them on. Chloroform 

 tends to break them up by dissolving the cholesterin. But any 

 such treatment must be accompanied by the abundant ingestion of 

 water, and this is often best secured by a run in a rich green 

 pasture. In the absence of pasturage, succulent fruits, and roots, 

 ensilage, mashes, and gruels may be advantageously substituted, 

 and conjoined with systematic exercise in the open air. 



