INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER—HEPATITIS 167 



Symptoms.— The symptoms of the disease do not usually 

 attract attention until the latter stages, and even then 

 they are rather vague in animals. In general they consist 

 in symptoms of chronic gastro-intestinal catarrh, with a 

 tendency to icterus. Impaired or capricious appetite, peri- 

 odical attacks of colic, especially after feeding roughage, 

 symptoms of immobility (stupor, forced movements, vertigo), 

 icteric or pale mucous membranes, loss of condition, hide- 

 boundness, and eventually emaciation are the symptoms 

 usually noted. In small animals, and in large ones if 

 sufficiently emaciated, it is possible to percuss out an 

 enlarged area of hepatic dulness (see larger works). In 

 small animals ascites and anasarca appear toward the end. 



Course. — ^The coiu-se is chronic and extends over months 

 and years. 



Treatment. — The treatment is usually of little value, 

 although some observers report temporary improvement 

 after using iodin preparations. 



Purulent Hepatitis {Abscess of the Liver) . — ^Etiology. — ^Liver 

 abscesses are not uncommon in calves and adult cattle, but 

 are rare in horses. They may originate in the following 

 ways: (a) Enterogenic infection due to pus organisms or 

 the necrosis bacillus from an infection of the portal system 

 from the bowel, (b) Embolic or pyemic abscesses, which 

 are formed via metastasis in strangles or pyemia, (c) Infec- 

 tion through the umbilicus of newborn colts and calves. 

 id) Traumatic abscesses due to foreign bodies which pene- 

 trate the liver usually from the reticulum and more rarely 

 from without, (e) Parasitic abscesses due to echinococci, 

 distomes and other animal parasites which have invaded 

 the organ. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms are very indefinite, and a 

 diagnosis is rarely made during the life of the patient. 

 Briefly they consist in fever, symptoms of indigestion, pain 

 on palpation, and the presence of bile pigment in the urine. 



Course and Prognosis. — The course is chronic and the 

 prognosis bad. 



- Treatment. — ^Treatment in animals is of no avail. In rare 

 instances opening the abscesses has been attempted, but 

 with indifferent sudcess. 



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