DISEASES OF THE LIVER AND SPLEEN. 87 



is more or less pendulous, the eyes dull, tongue coated with 

 brown^ur, gums congested, breath foetid ; and attendant on 

 these symptoms we have great thirst, loss of appetite, flatu- 

 lency, and rapid emaciation. 



Acute hepatitis may terminate in resolution or abscess, or 

 become chronic. 



Treatment. — In the early stage, local bleeding is exceed- 

 ingly beneficial, the hair over the affected region should be 

 shaved closely off and leeches applied, after which a hot lin- 

 seed-meal poultice may be bound over the part. 



With regard to medicinal agents — mild saline doses at the 

 onset, as a drachm each of sulphate of magnesia and bicar- 

 bonate of soda, repeated for three days, and then followed by 

 vegetable tonics, form the best internal treatment that I am 

 aware of. Stimulants are rarely, if ever, admissible. 



When the acute symptoms have abated, nourishing, but 

 unstimulating food may be allowed, with daily quiet exercise. 



CHRONIC HEPATITIS 



may, as I have observed, be a sequel of the former, or be as- 

 sociated with other diseases, or it may be created by some 

 specific disease within its own structure. 



It is, however, more generally brought about from long- 

 continued injudicious feeding and denial of exercise, and is 

 more frequently seen in the smaller breeds, particularly toy 

 terriers. 



Symptoms. — These are, to a considerable extent, a modi- 

 fied type of those existing in acute hepatitis. The size of 

 the liver may be increased or decreased — more frequently 

 the former, the enlargement being hard and more or less in- 

 sensible to pain on pressure. The animal has an habitual 

 jaundiced appearance, and is usually languid and dejected. 



Treatment.— The. treatment of chronic hepatitis may be 

 more extended than when it is acute. Counter-irritation is 

 decidedly indicated, and is certainly beneficial. I am of 

 opinion that strong iodine liniment applied with a brush, after 



