Diseases of the Liver and Spleen. 9 
whether it is owing to an incomplete separation of the 
elements which constitute the bile from the blood, in 
consequence of the liver not performing its proper 
function. 
“*T am inclined,’ the author says, ‘to the latter supposition, 
seeing that the icteric colour supervenes principally when 
there is atrophy of the liver, and also in the adipose liver, 
and when the substance of this organ has been invaded by 
the tissue of foreign substance, such as cancerous tumours, 
it cannot be supposed that in these cases there can be a 
superabundant secretion of bile to mix with the blood ; it 
seems infinitely more simple to admit that the function of 
the gland is insufficient to separate the elements of the bile 
from the blood, and the liquids and solids are soon pervaded 
by the icteric tint.’ 
“This view, however, the author does not take credit for, 
as several physiologists have considered the bile as an ex- 
cremental product. According to M. Colin the bile is thick, 
which is, moreover, the case also with other secretions. 
These physiological views seem to be completely ‘borne 
out by pathological facts ; Cons quent on these reflections 
I have thought it important to search for some remedy that 
was capable of restoring the function of the liver in jaundice 
of the dog. The author continues :— 
“ After several attempts I fixed on the chloride of mer 
cury (calomel), the purgative properties of which have been 
admitted ; but after having administered this drug in pur- 
gative doses without satisfactory result, I resorted to it in 
alterative doses, and the results obtained have been beyond 
my expectation, so that there is no case of true jaundice 
of the cure of which I despair at present. 
““« Without, however, pretending to have cured every 
case, I can affirm that since I am in possession of this 
remedy the fatal termination of the malady has been very 
rare ; while before the cures were exceptional, and death 
the rule; but the method of administration is not a matter 
