INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER— HEPATITIS 165 



Occurrence. — ^It is more common in calves, although 

 occasionally is met with in foals during the first few days 

 after birth. 



Etiology. — It seems to have several different causes: 

 Constipation, which prevents the discharge of the meco- 

 nium; stenosis of the gall-ducts; increased secretion of bile 

 in the first few days of life; reduced blood pressiu-e, and 

 probably diseases of the umbilical veins. 



Symptoms. — Symptoms are those of a catarrhal icterus 

 which in some instances is preceded by gastro-intestinal 

 distm-bances. 



Prognosis. — The prognosis is bad, as the majority of cases 

 soon die. Those animals which do recover usually do so 

 when the digestive disturbance is relieved. 



Treatment. — Same as for catarrhal icterus. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER. HEPATITIS. 



Definition. — By the term hepatitis we understand an 

 inflammation of the liver. Depending' upon the seat of 

 the inflammation, i. e., whether in the liver cells or interstitial 

 tissue, the coiu'se and the anatomical character of the 

 inflammation, three clinical forms may be distinguished: 

 (a) Parenchymatous hepatitis, (b) chronic interstitial hepa- 

 titis, and (c) pm-ulent hepatitis (abscess of the liver). 



Acute Parenchymatous. — ^Definition. — ^This consists in an 

 inflammation of the liver cells with cloudy swelling and fatty 

 infiltration of the same. 



Etiology. — ^The disorder is almost always a secondary 

 condition. Primary cases may be induced by numerous 

 toxic substances, such as spoiled food, poisonous plants, 

 phosphorus or bacteria which are carried to the liver through 

 the portal system, or occasionally through the umbilicus. 

 In the latter case the hepatitis may be enzootic, as occurs 

 in pigs and lambs. 



Hepatitis is secondary to many infectious diseases (septi- 

 cemia, influenza). It may also be secondary to poisoning 

 with phosphorus or arsenic. In some instances the cause is 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



