ON THE DISORDERS OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 143 



the latter.* Treatment. — Certainly a moderate bleeding, 

 when promptly resorted to, is the best means of dealing 

 with an acute case, and its action may be materially assisted 

 by mustard plasters over the liver and use of the warm 

 bath. Leeches to the side over the liver have been found 

 of benefit. The greatest care should be taken to avoid 

 exposure to cold after removal from the bath, the patient 

 being carefully wrapped up in a blanket. As for internal 

 agents, we may anticipate most benefit from Epsom salts, 

 nitre, and sal ammoniac, in small doses thrice a day.f 

 Antimony and mercurial compounds must be avoided, the 

 former on account of their influence on the stomach and 

 the latter as likely to hyperstimulate the liver. Frequent 

 small doses of dilute vinegar constitute an excellent 

 domestic remedy in these cases, and on recovery the animal 

 will require most careful attention to dieting. 



Chronic Hepatitis also is generally congestive rather 

 than due to inflammation. It is probably one of the 

 most frequent disorders of the dog, and may be traced to 

 causes such as when they act powerfully and simulta- 

 neously produce acute inflammation. These are gene- 

 rally insidious in their effects, gradually producing con- 

 gestion of the liver and degenerative changes of its com- 

 ponent elements. Exposure to cold and damp, especially 

 in a malarious climate, may cause acute congestion in 

 a liver predisposed by a long course of high feeding 

 uncounterbalanced by sufficient exercise. Exposure for a 

 long time to the relaxing effects of heat, abuse of medicines 

 which stimulate the liver, sudden immersion in watef when 

 the animal is very hot, injury from violence over the seat 

 of the organ, are causes of disorder. In England want 

 of exercise, over-feeding, and the moistness of the climate 

 are the main causes of chronic liver disorder, whereas in 

 India it principally results also from malaria; and pro- 

 longed high external temperature. , 



* Mayhew has recorded a case of liver abscess in a setter from which more 

 than two gallons of pus of a watery character was extracted. 



t Williams advocates elaterium for the relief of liver congestion in dogs, 

 it causes watery stools. ' •■-,'■, 



