DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 133 



Hepatitis as a rule is secondary to other disturbances, although it 

 may occasionally be primary. The intlammatory process may affect 

 the liver cells and is then designated parenchymatous hepatitis, or 

 it may affect the supporting framework, when it is designated 

 interstitial hepatitis. With but few exceptions hepatitis of s-syine has 

 not been made a subject of special investigation. An enzootic 

 hepatitis of young pigs occurred in Russia and was investigated by 

 Semmer. This disease has also occurred in eastern Prussia, where 

 it has been very fatal. The cause of this condition is probably a 

 coccus which is thought to gain entrance into the umbilicus at the 

 time of farrowing. The affected liver is enlarged, nodular and 

 variegated in color. 



Acute I'urenchij matous Hepatitis 



Acute parenchymatous hepatitis is a destructive inflammation in- 

 volving the liver cells. 



Etiology. — Chemic poisons derived from the bowel and carried to 

 the liver by way of the portal vein are frequent causes of this con- 

 dition. Bacterial infection entering the liver by way of the portal 

 vein, hepatic artery, hepatic vein, umbilical vein, or hepatic duct is 

 a common cause of hepatitis. The Distoma or liver flukes, the 

 larval form of Stephanurus dentatum, and other parasites produce 

 hepatitis. 



Lesions. — The liver becomes enlarged and loses its sharp outlines; 

 it is darker in color, gorged with blood, and is more friable than the 

 normal liver. There may be small hemorrhagic areas. 



Symptoms. — Icterus is usually the first and frequently the only 

 evidence of the disease. The affected swine may show symptoms of 

 pain when defecating or when moving about. 



Treatment. — Laxatives may produce some relief. The proper diet 

 should be given and the animals made comfortable. 



Suppurative Hepatitis 



Suppurative hepatitis as a primary condition is not very common 

 in swine. •'■-I'^il-jfj 



Etiology. — This condition is, as a rule, the result of bacterial in- 

 fection, although parasites of various kinds may produce it. The 

 infection in the liver is usually secondary and metastatic. Pyogenic 

 staphylococci and streptococci are the most common infecting agents, 



