77 
balls, made up of two drachms of opium, and one drachm of acetate of lead,. 
with a sufficiency of gentian and treacle, may be given twice daily. Each 
ball should contain in addition, twenty drops of carbolic acid. A favourite: 
mixture of ours is one containing sulpho-carbolate of sodium, given with 
tincture of opium, liquid extract of bael fruit and ipecacuanha. It is the: 
most efficacious combination we are acquainted with. 
Though we have no evidence, as yet, that dysentery owes its origin to: 
the entry of any germ into an already unhealthy and depressed system, it- 
seems not at all unlikely that this is the case. 
DISEASES OF THE LIVER. 
THE liver is the largest of all the glands. It weighs in the horse about 
eleven pounds. It has three very important functions. The liver of the 
horse is far less commonly affected by disease than that of man, in whom it 
is too frequently injured by immoderate drinking. We may remark,. 
incidentally, that if the alcohol were more freely diluted than it frequently is- 
the effect would not be nearly so deleterious, even though the actual amount 
taken were the same. The liver is a gland made up of oval portions called 
lobules, each of which is 1.20th of an inch in diameter, and composed. of 
little branches of the blood vessels, and of the liver duct, the interstices being 
filled with liver cells. The latter form the secreting part of the gland. They 
are spheroidal, and contain little nuceli and granules. Sometimes they 
exhibit slow contractile movements, just as those little animals which are 
termed amcebze do, or the white blood corpuscles of the blood which are 
very similar to amcebee, and, like them, throw out arm-like prolongations,. 
and then withdraw them again. 
Disease of the liver is very rare in the horse in this country, but is more 
often met with in eastern countries, especially in India. The usual causes 
are high feeding, and want of exercise ; while residence in hot, damp climes- 
also predisposes horses to attack. Lack of sufficient air is also regarded 
as a cause of this affection. The usual signs of liver disease are the 
same in the horse as in man. Among the most common symptoms presented, 
are jaundice, local pain in the region of the liver, colicky pains, and persistent 
pain in the off shoulder. From a comparative point of view, it is interesting 
to observe how these manifestations of liver disease, correspond with those: 
shown in man, in whom the lameness of the horse’s right fore-limb is 
represented by pain in the 77gh¢ shoulder. 
In cases of congestion of the liver coming on suddenly, and manifested 
by jaundice, shown by the yellowish tinge of the white of the eyes, and loss 
of appetite, coldness of the extremities, and pain over the region of the liver 
on pressure, it is advisable to abstract blood in moderation, say two or three 
quarts. The blood-letting should. be followed up by the administration of 
five or six drachms of aloes. The diet should be laxative and restricted in 
amount. After the aloes is given, sulphate of sodium in four ounce doses with 
