128 SWINE PRACTICE 



ICTERUS 



Icterus or jaundice is a condition resulting from the deposition 

 of bile or bile pigments in the various tissues. This condition is 

 relatively common and is signiticant as a diagnostic factor. 



Etiology. — Icterus may be the result of obstructed outflow of bile. 

 It may result from excessive destruction of red blood cells, of failure 

 of elimination of bile from the blood. Obstructed outflow of bile 

 may be due to calculi, parasites, or foreign bodies in the bile ducts, 

 closure of the duct by cicatrices, muscular spasms, tumors, abscess, 

 aneurysms, fecal matter, parasitic cysts, or inflammatory disturbances 

 of the mucous membrane of the duodenum or the various bile ducts. 

 Excessive production of bile in the blood occurs as a result of 

 hemolysis due to chemic substances in such diseases as hog cholera, 

 swine plague, septicemia, pyemia, generalized anthrax, phosphorous 

 and phenol poisoning, and also as a result of the injection of the 

 venom of some poisonous snakes. Failure of elimination of bile 

 occurs not only when the outlets are obstructed but also when con- 

 siderable numbers of liver cells have been destroyed or their function- 

 al capacity diminished. 



Lesions. — Bile staining is most evident in the conjunctiva and 

 ocular sclera of the living animal, where it produces a lemon-yellow 

 or greenish-yellow discoloration. If the reabsorption of bile is very 

 extensive it may appear in the urine. In carcasses biliary pigmenta- 

 tion is most evident in the adipose tissues, especially the subcutane- 

 ous fat, although it is usually well marked in the subserous fat and 

 may be detected in the lymph nodes, spleen, kidney, and muscular 

 tissues. On microscopic examination the bile pigments may be found 

 in the cells or between the cells as greenish-yellow amorphous 

 granules. 



Symptoms. — The effects of icterus are variable. The tissues are 

 discolored; there may be pruritus, cardiac depression, vomition, 

 coma, and death. The symptoms above outlined are probably not 

 due to the presence of the bile pigments in the tissue, but to other 

 substances that have not been eliminated. 



Treatment. — Removal of the cause is usiially all that is required 

 for complete recovery from icterus. If the cause cannot be identi- 

 fied, then the symptoms should be treated as they arise, purgation 

 and especially calomel in 5 to 10 grain doses are of value in these 

 cases. 



