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 smaiZ 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 cf 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 dead. 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, 
