DISEASES OF THE LIVER 125 



and disappearing. This is a pathological con- 

 dition. 



Rupture of the Liver 



In cases where the liver is excessively congested 

 with blood or is overly filled with fat, as men- 

 tioned above, violence may result in rupture. 



One case that may be of interest came to the laboratory, 

 and at autopsy was found to be ruptured, with considerable 

 blood (hemorrhage) in the, abdominal cavity (among the 

 intestines). The rupture or tear was about three-quarters 

 of an Inch long and on the left lobe. The organ was double 

 its normal size. Upon microscopic examination it was found 

 to be congested and occasional small ruptures (hemorrhages) 

 were found throughout the liver substance. 



This hird was in a yard with a horse and it is supposed 

 to have been kicked or stepped upon, as the left side was 

 bruised. 



Congestion of the Liver 



There are two kinds of congestion of the liver, 

 active and passive. Active congestion precedes 

 inflammation and is a state in which the capillar- 

 ies, arterioles and arteries are engorged with 

 blood. It is caused by local irritation. 



Passive congestion of the liver is usually due to 

 a weak heart or a leaky valve between the two cav- 

 ities of the right side. The blood backs up into 

 the liver, and the central veins of the lobules and 

 capillaries, between the columns of liver cells, be- 

 come engorged. It gives the cut surface a pecu- 

 liar yellowish mottled appearance called "nut- 

 meg liver," from a fancied resemblance that it 

 bears to the sectional surface of a nutmeg. 



Inflammation of the Liver 



Inflammation of the liver may be the result of 

 absorption of poisonous products from the in- 

 testines. These products (toxins) lodge in the 

 liver, or the inflammation may be due to infection 



