■94 DISEASES OF THE SOLID OEGANS OF THE ABDOMEN. 



Caj^CER OF THE LlVESi. 



Cases are on record where the liver has been the seat of cancerous 

 changes, proving the possibility of such an affection invading that organ. 

 The disease in nearly all if not all cases, attacks other parts or organs of 

 the body first, and the changes in the liver are of secondary occurrence. 



It has been found circumscribed or confined to certain portions of the 

 organ, and appeared in the form of nodules or tumors varying in size. 

 Sometimes a tumor has been found to occur singly, again the whole liver 

 has been studded with them. 



Cancerous deposits take on two varieties which are teiTuedthe hard and 

 the soft. With either the liver is usually enlarged, and when the former 

 exists its presence can be more easily determined, the hard tumors being 

 felt. The soft variety can rarely be detected during life. 



Cancer of the liver rarely occurs except in very old dogs. If the bulging 

 tumors can be felt, a correct diagnosis might be reached. The general 

 manifestations of the disease are iirogressive emaciation, debility, abdom- 

 inal enlargement, and possibly jaundice late in the affection. 



Dropsy of the extremities is also liable to occur. Digestion is destroyed 

 and tlie appetite lost. Diarrhcea usually occurs, and all the signs of ex- 

 haustion are present. Pain may be prominent as a symptom. 



Treatment can have no other result than palliation, and possibly the 

 prolongation of life. 



:Affectioj^s of the S'Pzeejv. 



The special function of the spleen has never been clearly determined ; 

 like other glands its action is to modify the constitution of the blood. The 

 precise alteration which is effected by its passage through splenic tissue 

 has not been discovered. The spleen may be removed from a dog without 

 its loss producing any permanent injury. The experiment has been fre- 

 quently performed, and among the most constant effects noted are Increase 

 of appetite and an unnatural ferocity of disposition. 



The spleen cannot therefore be regarded as a single organ, but as asso- 

 ciated with others which may completely or to a great extent perform its 

 function after removal. 



Acute inflammation of the spleen or splenitis is an exceedingly rare 

 affection. The symptoms which have been observed are restlessness, 

 tenderness over the organ, some fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, great 

 thirst, and as Youatt observes, " shivering, the cars cold, the eyes unnat- 



