CHAPTER X. 

 DISEASES OF THE LIVER 



Effects of deranged functions of the liver. General symptoms and causes. 

 Saccharine urine, Diabetes Mellitus. Blood-poisoning from imperfect oxida< 

 tion of albuminoids, Azotasmia, Azoturia, Enzootic Haematuria, Spinal 

 Meningitis. Red-water in cattle, sheep and pigs. Wood Evil. Jaundice, 

 Icterus, the Yellows. Congestion of the liver. Rupture of the liver. In- 

 flammation of the liver, Hepatitis. Chronic inflammation of the liver. 

 Results of hepatitis. Gall-Stones, Biliary Calculi. Fatty degeneration. 

 Tubercle. Cancer. Hypertrophy. Atrophy. Parasitic diseases of the 

 liver. Liver-rot, Fluke-disease. Fasciola Hepatica. Distomum Lanceo- 

 latum. 



Only no"w, when the functions of the liver are being 

 more fully discovered, do we begin to apprehend the full 

 importance of its various disorders. Formerly this organ 

 was supposed to have exhausted its functions in the secre- 

 tion of bile, and the various modifications and impaired 

 discharge of this product together with inflammation, 

 morbid growths and degenerations circumscribed the list 

 of hepatic diseases. But the recognition of the formation 

 of glycogen and cholesterine in the liver, together with urea 

 and other less perfectly oxidized nitrogenous bodies which 

 pass into the blood in place of being discharged with tlie 

 bile, points to the liver as the chief local seat of various 

 disorders such as diabetes, cholesterine plugging of ves 

 sels, blood-poisoning from imperfectly oxidized albumi- 

 noids, and urinary calculi. 



General Symptoms. These may be stated shortly as 

 follows : obesity, sluggishness, irregular bowels, the dung 

 being abundant, liquid and deep yeUow or orange from 



