ICTERUS—JAUNDICE 227 



pigment deposited. Catarrhal inflammation of the stomach 

 and duodenum is often observed, the mucous membrane 

 swollen, the bloodvessels congested, and as a rule the mouth 

 of the hepatic duct will be found closed from the swelling of 

 the mucosa. The duct itself is often found occluded from a 

 swelling of its membranes from infection, parasites, foreign 

 bodies, gall-stones, etc. The duct is usually partially filled 

 with a thick, syrupy, or semisolid mass of bile and mucus. 

 The liver is usually found enlarged, and varies in color from 

 a diffuse light yellow to yellowish-brown, or the color may be 

 irregularly distributed causing a mottled appearance. The 

 bowel contents are light gray or slate gray in color, owing to 

 the absence of bile, and emit a fetid odor. 



Symptoms.— The early manifestations of icterus depend 

 largely upon the underlying causes of which jaundice is 

 merely a symptom. All of the tissues and organs, with the 

 exception of the nervous, are stained with biliary pigments; 

 in very severe cases where infection is the cause the nervous 

 system may also be stained. The discoloration is most' 

 noticeable in the skin and mucous membrane. 



Mucous Membranes and Skin.— Icterus is first manifested 

 by a yellowish discoloration of the eye involving the con- 

 junctiva and sclera. In very mild cases a slight tinge of 

 yellow noticed on the conjunctiva may be the only symptom 

 of the condition. As a rule, as the disease progresses the 

 other visible mucous membranes will also show the yellowish 

 discoloration. In the dog the entire membranes of the 

 mouth will be colored yellow. The skin, especially if non- 

 pigmented, becomes a characteristic light yellow, or greenish- 

 yellow depending upon the amount of bile pigment distribut- 

 ed. The discoloration is seen early on the skin of the abdo- 

 men, thighs, and ultimately over the entire body. In dark 

 skinned animals the condition can also be observed, the skin 

 assuming a dark olive green color. The color of the skin may 

 assist somewhat in arriving at the possible etiological factor, 

 as the discoloration is usually light in the toxic or hemo- 

 hepatogenous icterus, while it usually is darkest when the 

 ducts are completely obstructed— hepatogenous icterus. 

 The intensity of the external symptoms, therefore, is in pro- 



