166 DISEASES OF THE LIVER 



parasitic (distoma, cysticercus, sclerostoma), which wander 

 into the liver substance. 



Necropsy. — ^The Hver is swollen (borders rounded), con- 

 gested, spotted with dark red hemorrhages. The consistency 

 is softer and more friable than normal. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms of acute parenchymatous 

 hepatitis are usually very vague and masked by those of 

 the primary disease, to which it is secondary. 



Diagnosis. — A diagnosis can rarely be made dm-ing life, 

 except in the dog, where the symptoms are those of weak- 

 ness, icterus, and sensitiveness over the region of the liver. 



Treatment. — ^Treatment consists in the administration of 

 salts, which mildly purge, and the use of intestinal disin- 

 fectants. The diet should be regulated by excluding food 

 rich in fats. 



Chronic Interstitial Hepatitis {Cirrhosis of the Liver). — 

 Definition. — Cirrhosis of the liver consists of an inflamma- 

 tory proliferation pf connective tissue with atrophy of the 

 liver cells. Two forms of cirrhosis may be distinguished, 

 the hypertrophic and the atrophic. In the first form, due 

 to cellular infiltration and the increase in connective tissue, 

 the liver is increased in size; in the latter form, due 

 to a shrinkage of the connective tissue, a marked decrease 

 in the size of the organ occurs. The consistency of the 

 liver is very hard and firm and its surface very irregular 

 (hobnail liver), or the surface may appear granular or lobed 

 or there may be diffuse induration. 



Occurrence. — Chronic interstitial hepatitis, while usually 

 sporadic, in some instances may assume an enzootic dis- 

 tribution (Schweinburg disease, North Dakota bottom 

 disease), causing considerable loss among cattle, sheep and 

 swine. 



Etiology. — ^The cause of interstitial hepatitis in animals is 

 unknown. In all probability it may be toxic and due to 

 plants of the Senecio group (rag wort), or it may be infec- 

 tious. In animals it is more often the result of animal 

 parasitism (sclerostomiasis) . Congestion of bile is a rare 

 cause. Cirrhosis of the liver is a symptom of distomatosis. 



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