HEPATITIS 235 



Treatment.— Dietetic— Treatment affords only temporary 

 relief. Encourage the animal to eat, by giving small amounts 

 of lean meat, milk, etc., which may be given in conjunction 

 with alkalies (sodium bicarbonate) to conserve the strength. 



Medical.— For defective circulation, due to diminished 

 heart action (valvular insufficiency), digitalis fluidextract 

 (dog, 0.1-0.3; cat, 0.025-0.05 once or twice daily) is the 

 most efficient drug, especially when used in the early stages. 



Magnesium sulphate should be given in constipation. 

 Stomachic tonics (gentian, nux vomica) are also indicated. 



HEPATITIS. 



Definition. — An acute or chronic inflammation of the liver. 

 This comprises a series of most diverse conditions varying 

 from active congestion, acute or chronic inflammation, to 

 localized foci of necrosis or to the different forms of icterus 

 gravis. 



Etiology.— Hepatitis may result from the many causes 

 enumerated under active congestion of the liver (see Conges- 

 tion). The only real difference between the conditions is in 

 degree. A clinical differentiation, therefore, may be difficult. 

 Acute hepatitis is most commonly due to the absorption of 

 toxins during the course of infections or specific infectious 

 diseases. It may also result from the absorption of toxic 

 materials, such as poisons, from the intestinal tract (common 

 in dogs). 



Chronic interstitial hepatitis may develop from the acute 

 or from valvular disease of the heart. 



Pathology.— In acute hepatitis the pathological changes are 

 varied. The whole phenomena of inflammation (congestion, 

 cloudy swelling, focal necrosis, etc.) may be present. In 

 mild cases the liver appears as in active congestion with 

 cloudy swelling. In severe cases the pathological changes 

 are intensified. The liver is enlarged, swollen, softened, and 

 rather pale in color; the cut surface is pale, opaque, and 

 shows mottling depending upon the degree of inflammation. 



Symptoms.— The symptoms are very similar in many res- 

 pects to those of active congestion of the liver of which acute 



