Diseases of the Liver. 183 



exces'5 of bile in active congestions of the liver, or on the 

 contrary there may be costiveness, with light-colored, 

 foetid, imperfectly digested stools in cases in which bile is 

 not secreted or is debarred from entering the bowels by 

 some mechanical obstruction ; lameness in the right fore 

 limb, or even in one or more of the remaining members, 

 without any observable local cause ; cramps and even 

 paralysis in the severer cases with poisonous products 

 tlirown into the blood ; a tardy pulse sometimes not more 

 than half its natural number; yellow or orange color of 

 the eyes and other visible mucous membranes, and of the 

 urine in cases of obstructed bile-duets or intestines with 

 reabsorption of bile, or in destruction of blood-cells by 

 taurocholic acid and other products abnormally present ia 

 the blood ; tenderness or groaning when the last ribs are 

 pinched or struck with the closed fist ; a yellow or orange 

 fur may sometimes be seen universally diffused or in cii- 

 cumscribed spots on the upper surface of the tongue ; the 

 presence in the urine of deep brown or reddish granular 

 deposits replacing urea is another sign of liver disorder. 

 Obstructed circulation in the Hver causes congestion of the 

 portal vein, engorged spleen, intestinal catarrh, eifusion of 

 blood on the bowels, piles, dropsy of the abdomen, and 

 swelling of the hind hmbs. These may therefore be at- 

 tendant symptoms. 



The conditions in which animals live may further assist 

 our decision in suggesting an efficient cause. The fat, idle, 

 overfed and pampered stock are especially subject to hver 

 disease, and more particularly if kept in close, hot, damp 

 buildings or climates, or supphed with putrid water or 

 unwholesome food. Thus the pampered family horse, the 

 idle farm horse during our long winters, the high-bred as., 

 sheep, and pig in which everything has been sacrificed to 

 secure excellence as meat producers, the pet dog, and the 

 Brahmas, Cochins and other plump hens of Asiatic ex- 

 ti'action, present frequent examples of liver disease. The 

 stabled animal is more subject to it than those running a< 



