DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 127 



all of the cases observed the hepatic duct was found gorged with the 

 foreign material, the duct in some instances being more than one 

 inch in diameter; the cystic duct and gall bladder were found to 

 contain varying quantities of the same material. In one case the 

 gall bladder was so engorged with sand that it had dilated until it 

 was fully as large as a quart measure. The foreign substance, either 

 cinders or sand, may also be found in the ducts that convey the bile 

 to the gall bladder. In some instances the biliary capillaries con- 

 tained considerable quantities of sand. The accumulations obstruct- 

 ing the outflow of bile result in icterus of varying intensity. There 

 is also a catarrhal inflanimation of the adjacent intestinal mucosa and 

 the mucous membrane of the bile tubules, gall-bladder, and hepatic 

 duct. 



RUPTURE 



Rupture or laceration of the liver does occur, although it is not so 

 common in swine as in most other animals because the abdominal 

 wall of swine is comparatively thick, due to the deposition of sub- 

 cutaneous fat. 



Etiology. — The usual cause of hepatic rupture is mechanical inter- 

 ference in the form of a sudden blow, such as the kick pi a mule or 

 the penetration of the liver with some sharp object which may 

 lacerate the hepatic tissue. 



Lesions. — If the hepatic lesion has caused sudden death the peri- 

 toneal cavity will contain a large quantity of blood which may or 

 may not be coagulated, depending upon the length of time after 

 death that the autopsy is conducted. If the injury is an old lesion, 

 cicatricial tissue will have sealed the wound and perhaps, by con- 

 traction, distorted the liver. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms evidenced will be shock, weakness, and 

 blanched visible mucous membranes due to loss of blood from the 

 blood vascular system.. Should the animal survive the immediate 

 effect of the injury and the loss of blood, there may be symptoms 

 only of impaired hepatic function, or there may be no visible symp- 

 toms. 



Treatment. — Because of the nature of hepatic rupture, treatment 

 is of no avail. In cases that will probably have a fatal termination 

 the animal may be bled to death and the carcass thus saved for 

 meat. 



