DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS.. 89 



yellowness of the mucous membranes follows. Jaundice may also 

 exist during the presence of simple constipation, hepatitis, biliary 

 calculi, abscesses, hardening of the liver, etc. 



Treatment. — ^When jaundice exists we must endeavor to rid the 

 system of the excess of bile, and this is best accomplished by giving 

 purgatives that act upon the liver. Calomel, 2 drams, with aloes, 7 

 drams, should be given. Glauber's salt in handful doses once , or 

 twice a day for a week is also effective. May apple, rhubarb, castor 

 oil, and other cathartics that act upon the first or small bowels may 

 be selected. We must be careful to see that the bowels are kept open 

 by avoiding hard, dry, bulky feeds. 



RUPTURE OF THE LIVER. 



This is known to occur at times in the horse, most frequently in, 

 old, fat horses and those that get but little exercise. Horses that 

 have suffered from chronic liver disease for years eventually present 

 symptoms of colic and die quite suddenly. Upon post mortem ex- 

 amination we discover that the liver has ruptured. The cicatrices, 

 or scars, that are often found upon the liver indicate that this organ 

 may suffer small rupture and yet the horse may recover from it. 

 This can not be the result, however, if the rent or tear is extensive, 

 since in such cases death must quickly follow from hemorrhage, or, 

 later, from peritonitis. - Enlarged liver is particularly liable to rup- 

 ture. 



The immediate causes of rupture appear to be excessive muscular 

 exertion, as leaping a fence, a fall,, a blow from a collision, a kick 

 from a horse, or sudden distention of the abdomen with gas. 



The symptoms of rupture of the liver will depend upon the extent 

 of the laceration. If slight, there will be simply the symptoms of - 

 abdominal pain, looking back to the sides, lying down, etc. ; if exten- 

 sive, the horse is dull and dejected, has no appetite, breathing be- 

 comes short and catching, he sighs or sobs, visible mucous membranes 

 are pale, extremities cold, pulse fast, small, and weak or running 

 down. Countenance now shows much distress, he sweats profusely, 

 totters in his gait, props his legs wide apart, reels, staggers, and falls. 

 He may get up again, but soon^ falls dea.d. The rapid running-down 

 pulse, paleness of the eyes, nose, and mouth, sighing, stertorous 

 breathing, tottering gait, etc., are symptoms by which we know that 

 the animal is dying from internal hemorrhage. 



Treatment. — But little can be done in the way of treatment. Opium 

 in powder, in doses of 2 drams every two or three hours, may be 

 given, with the idea of preventing as much as possible all movements 

 of internal organs. If there is reascn to suspect internal bleeding. 



