Diseases of the I Aver. 191 



tassa, soda and ammonia being especially good. Bittei 

 and other tonics are often valuable in conteracting that iia- 

 pairment of tone which favors congestion and swelling of 

 the stomach, intestine and Hver, otherwise the treatment 

 nmst correspond to the nature of the cause when that can 

 be ascertained. 



CONGESTION OF THE LIVEE. 



This is common in horses in warm climates, where 

 luxuriant grasses (plethora) and hot seasons strongly pre- 

 dispose. Hence, in the Southern States, and especially in 

 localities which are moist as well, and where" malarious 

 emanations exist, it may be looked for, but it is also seen 

 in pampered idle animals kept in hot close stables any- 

 where. Eich food and the comparative absence of waste by 

 exercise and breathing throw too much labor on the liver, 

 which is rendered liable to clogging and congestion. Among 

 the immediate exciting causes may be named sudden 

 changes of temperature, emigration from a cold to a warm 

 damp region, chiUs in cold dewy nights after hot days, 

 sudden exertion when unfitted for it by long rest and bad 

 condition, exertion under intense heat of the sun, and blows 

 on the region of the liver, particularly on the young. 

 Venous congestion from imperfect action of the heart 

 valves is a cause of hepatic congestion, at once predispos- 

 ing and exciting. 



Symptoms. These strongly resemble the severe forms 

 of poisoning, by imperfectly elaborated liver products, the 

 two conditions being often coexistent and mutually de- 

 pendent on each other. There are the sudden prostration, 

 dull sunken eyes, pinched anxious face, excited breathing 

 and pulse, trembling, swaying limbs, perspiration, sighing, 

 and violent colicky pains with frequent looking at the flank, 

 lying down and rising. Striking the last ribs with the fist 

 causes flinching, gi'oaning, or even attempts to Idck oi 

 bite, and some jaundice and furring of the tongue are often 

 Been. When fainting ensues, this ^ith the paUid inucoua 



