Diseases of the Liver. 193 



flammation of tlie liver capsule, the region of the last ribs 

 is very tender to a blow (on the right side only in mmi- 

 nants), the mouth hot and clammy, tongue furred, mucous 

 membranes more or less dusky or yellow and the heat of 

 the body raised by 2° or upwards. The bowels may be 

 at first loose, yellow and bilious but soon are confined, 

 the small pellets of dung being covered with a yellowish 

 mucus and this state may again give place to a mucous 

 diarrhoea. Appetite is usually completely lost, emaciation 

 advances rapidly, blood spots and patches appear on the 

 visible mucous membranes, and the legs, especially the 

 hind ones, swell or stock. Great nervous atony, convul- 

 sions or even delirium may appear toward the last. 



In dogs there is great dullness and muscular weakness, 

 inclination to he constantly, unsteady gait, dusky or yel- 

 low membranes, furred tongue, prominence of the last ribs 

 on the right side and tenderness along them and their 

 cartilages. When the disease is fully developed the tumid 

 edge of the liver may be felt behind the last rib and the 

 costal cartilages. A brownish, mucous diarrhcea succeeds 

 to the prehminary constipation. Great nervous prostra- 

 tion and stupor usually precede death. The disease is 

 very fatal in dogs but may merge into the chronic form 

 with ascites or end in a perfect recovery. 



Folds, especially the less lively birds, sufi'er much from 

 hepatitis when well fed and kept in a small poultry-yard. 

 They may die suddenly of effusion of blood on the hver 

 w ithout any previous signs of illness, or they may droop 

 for some days or even weeks prior to death. Any change 

 in the habits of closely confined, plethoric fowls should 

 lead to suspicion of hver disease. Euffled feathers, slak- 

 ing of the head between the wings, sluggishness in run- 

 niag or feeding, drooping in a corner alone, with a with- 

 ered brownish appearance of the comb and jaundice of 

 the skin are especially to be noted. 



Treatment. Bleeding is rarely beneficial and we must 

 rely mainly on depletion from the portal system and livei 

 17 



