DISEASES OF THE LIVER AND SPLEEN. 93 



compression in the region of the liver. Finally, the obstinate 

 constipation so frequent in dogs condemned to live in large 

 towns, seems to me to have a large share in the production 

 of this malady. It is said that anger, combats amongst them, 

 fright, etc., might cause jaundice. 



" The first signs of the affection are variable, but most 

 frequently the following symptoms are observed : dulness 

 prostration, difficulty in locomotion, arched back, acceleration 

 of the pulse, nose hot and dry, mucous membrane of a bright- 

 red color, mouth dry and hot, staring coat, principally on the 

 back, abdomen hard and tender in the region of the liver, 

 and in a very short time seems as if adhering to the back. 

 The animal soon refuses all food (liquid and solid), but there 

 is an intense thirst, and the dog will not drink any thing but 

 pure water. Often the animal seems to be troubled with 

 colic ; soon supervenes a symptom which is rarely absent, 

 that is bilious vomiting, which is very frequent and often 

 mixed with blood ; the urine becomes of a dark color and 

 bloody, constipation is frequently present, but sometimes 

 there is diarrhoea, the excrements being bloody, and often the 

 dog voids pure blood. At this stage the malady is easily 

 recognized by an experienced eye, but soon there is no pos- 

 sibility of doubt, as the yellow tints set in — the mucous mem- 

 branes are the first 'invaded by it, but soon the skin also 

 shows the icteric tint. This tint varies sometimes from straw- 

 color to dark yellow. 



" The pulse now becomes weaker and much slower, the 

 urine has a more decided yellow tint ; the animal becomes 

 more and more feeble, gets up with difficulty, and exhales a 

 peculiar disagreeable odor from the mouth ; the weakness be- 

 comes extreme, the emaciation is visible, the extremities 

 grow cold ; the animal becomes now insensible to surround- 

 ing objects, and death terminates the scene. Sometimes the 

 malady lasts only two days, but in general the duration varies 

 from two to five days. 



" In some cases a cough supervenes, with acceleration of 



