DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 135 



Acute Interstitial Hepatitis -i! 



Acute interstitial hepatitis is not a common condition but it does 

 occur in swine and therefore should receive some consideration. 



Etiology. — The cause of acute interstitial hepatitis probably al- 

 ways enters the liver by way of the hepatic artery, and is most fre- 

 quently due to bacterial infection or animal parasitic invasion. 

 The various suppurative bacteria, Bacillus coli communis or some 

 of its derivatives and Bacillus necrophorus, may be the causative 

 agent. Protozoan parasites and the larvae of some vermes are re- 

 sponsible for some cases of acute interstitial hepatitis. 



Lesions. — The liver is enlarged and appears to be affected with 

 chronic interstitial hepatitis because the interlobular tissue is in- 

 filtrated with leukocytes. The liver tissue is soft and friable. Micro- 

 scopic study of these livers has revealed the fact that in nearly every 

 instance the infiltration leukocytes are practically all eosinophiles. 



Sym-ptoms. — ^P'ew if any investigations of these cases have been 

 made clinically or at least such have not been reported. The marked 

 interlobular infiltration tends to obstruct the biliary capillaries, 

 causing reabsorption of bile with' accompanying ictcKus. 



Treatment. — The nature of this conditioii: permits lof little if any 

 relief by the use of drugs. Pro'viding the proper diet and sur- 

 roundings are provided, treating the symptoms as they arise is ap- 

 parently all that can be advised for the relief of;this condition. 



Chronic Interstitial Hepatitis (Cirrhosis-Sclerosis) 



Chronic interstitial hepatitis, cirrhosis or sclerosis of the liver, con- 

 sists of a proliferation of fibrous tissue which damages and ulti- 

 mately displaces some of the functional liver tissue. The condition is 

 rather common, especially in swine fed upon fermented products, 

 such as distillery waste, or garbage. 



Etiology. — This condition is due to injurious chemical agents de- 

 rived either from the food or from bacterial action, that is, those 

 substances that are capable of producing a mild degree of irritation. 

 Animal parasites, either by direct mechanical irritation or irritation 

 by eliminated chemicals, also produce chronic interstitial hepatitis. 

 The condition, too, may be secondary to other disease processes. . 



Lesions. — Chronic interstitial hepatitis is essentially a prolifer- 

 ation of fibrous tissue. The fibrous tissue may be produced within 

 the liver lobule, causing an enlargement of the lobules and also of 



