INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER— HEPATITIS 145 



parasitic (distoma, cysticercus, sclerostoma), which wander 

 into the liver substance. 



Necropsy.— The liver is swollen (borders rounded), con- 

 gested, spotted with dark red hemorrhages. The consistency 

 is softer and more friable than normal. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms of acute parenchymatous hep- 

 atitis are usually very vague and masked by those of the 

 primary disease, to which it is secondary. 



Diagnosis. — A diagnosis can rarely be made during life, 

 except in the dog, where the symptoms are those of 

 weakness, icterus and sensitiveness over the region of 

 the liver. 



Treatment. — Treatment consists in the administration of 

 salts, which mildly purge, and the use of intestinal disin- 

 fectants. The diet should be regulated by excluding food 

 rich in fats. 



Chronic Interstitial Hepatitis (Cirrhosis of the Liver). — 

 Definition. — Cirrhosis of the liver consists of an inflammatory 

 proliferation of connective tissue with atrophy of the liver 

 cells. Two forms of cirrhosis may be distinguished, the 

 hypertrophic and the atrophic. In the first form, due to 

 cellular infiltration and the increase in connective tissue, 

 the liver is increased in size, while in the latter form, due to a 

 shrinkage of the connective tissue, a marked decrease in the 

 size of the organ occurs. The consistency of the liver is very 

 hard and firm and its surface very irregular (hobnail liver), 

 or the surface may appear granular or lobed or there may 

 be diffuse induration. 



Occurrence. — Chronic interstitial hepatitis, while usually 

 sporadic, in some instances may assume an enzootic dis- 

 tribution (Schweinburg disease, North Dakota bottom 

 disease), causing considerable loss among cattle, sheep, 

 and swine. 



Etiology. — The cause of interstitial hepatitis in animals is 

 unknown. In all probability it may be toxic and due to 

 plants of the senecio group (rag wort), or it may be infectious. 

 In animals it is more often the result of animal parasitism 

 (sclerostomiasis). Congestion of bile is a rare cause. Cir- 

 rhosis of the liver is a symptom of distomatosis. 

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