134 KENNEL DISEASES. 
CHAPTER V. 
AMYLOID LIVER. 
In very rare cases there is a deposit in the connective tissues of the liver of 
a peculiar substance having some of the reactions of and resembling starch. 
The liver is then said to be the subject of amyloid infiltration. 
The organ is increased in size and of firmer consistency. Its edges are 
rounded, and the surface is of light color, presenting in some instances a 
mottled appearance. 
Amyloid infiltration may occur primarily in the liver; but it is often a part of 
a similar change going on elsewhere in the system, and affecting especially the 
spleen and kidneys. It has also been attributed to peculiar changes in the 
blood, and to certain exhausting constitutional diseases. 
Among the symptoms presented are those manifested by gastric and intes- 
tinal disturbance, abdominal enlargement, capricious appetite, constipation, and 
great falling off in condition generally. But rarely, however, are they sufii- 
ciently distinctive to enable a diagnosis to be made. 
A cure is out of the question, although a gain is possible. It were, there- 
fore, useless to discuss treatment. 
CANCER OF THE LIVER. 
Only a very few cases are on record in which malignant growths have formed 
in the livers of dogs; and nearly all, if not all, of the victims had reached old 
age. It appears to have been the rule also that the cancerous changes in the 
liver were of secondary occurrence, some other parts of the body having been 
first attacked by them. 
Such changes are characterized by digestive disturbances, loss of appetite, 
diarrhoea alternating with constipation, progressive emaciation, a general break- 
ing-down of the system, abdominal enlargement, possibly jaundice, and the 
appearance of nodular masses, — bunches, irregular enlargements, or tumors. 
These may occur singly, or the whole liver be studded with them. 
Cancerous deposits are of two varieties; namely, the hard and the soft. 
With either the liver is usually slightly increased in size. The presence of the 
