CATABBHAL JAUNDICE. 93 



presence of bile color of urine by chemical examination. (For 

 further details, see the chapter on the Examination of the Urinary 

 Apparatus.) Besides the bile acids the urine almost always con- 

 tains albumin, short hyaline casts, pigment granulations, and 

 epithelium of the kidneys. 



3. On account of the stoppage of the flow of bile into the intes- 

 tines the feces become gray or clay colored and contain much 

 undigested fat, and hydrobilirubin is present. The fat substance 

 not being digested, the feces become very fetid ; this change is 

 also due to a certain extent to the antiseptic effect of the bile, and 

 as the food is passed along the intestine the tonic effect of the bile 

 is wanting. 



4. The bile acids present in the blood produce a certain amount 

 of depression on the nerve-centres, and for this reason we find that 

 the pulse and respirations are subnormal in action, and the temper- 

 ature is reduced. Other symptoms of the narcotic effect of the 

 bile are seen in some cases where there are depression, great mus- 

 cular debility, indifference to surroundings, somnolence, and finally 

 deep coma. 



The local examination of the liver gives little satisfaction. The 

 author has never been able, except in one case, to find any per- 

 ceptible enlargement of the liver. Any manipulation of the 

 liver does not seem to give the animals pain even in the later stages 

 of the disease. The prognosis in the dog is generally unfavorable. 

 The yellow coloration gradually becomes deeper, the temperature 

 falls in the majority of cases, the pulse becomes weak and irreg- 

 ular, and finally death occurs with general paralysis. If the case 

 progresses favorably, the first sign is a lessening in the coloration 

 of the urine and a darker hue to the feces, the pulse becomes 

 fuller and more regular, the temperature increases, the animal 

 shows more animation, and the color in the mucous membranes and 

 skin becomes lighter until it finally disappears. If there is a 

 relapse, it- is generally caused by improper feeding. 



Therapeutics. We must first aim to reduce the irritation of 

 the duodenum, also the bile-ducts. This is first gotten at by reg- 

 ulating the diet: Small quantities of lean meat and alkalies in 

 the form of carbonates and carbonic acid. Strong purgatives have 

 been recommended, such as. calomel, castor oil, and infusions of 

 rhubaib; but they are of no particular value — in fact, in the majority 



