144 THE DISEASES OF THE DOG 



The Symptoms are at first jaundice of a subacute cha- 

 racter, constant dulness, frequent vomition, unthrifty coat, 

 swollen right side of the belly, persistent thirst, indiges- 

 tion, flatulence, and extreme irregularity of the bowels. 

 The patient eats but little, wastes away rapidly, his belly 

 becomes pendulous, but on manipulation this is found not 

 due to dropsy ; piles are a common result of pressure of 

 the swollen liver on the large veins passing through it. 

 It has been observed that the wasting of the animal often 

 occurs suddenly after it has been extremely fat, its skin 

 becomes much disordered, rough, harsh, and scabby. 

 Asthma and splenic disorders have been noted as not 

 infrequent accompaniments. The form of distemper in 

 which the liver is principally affected must not be taken 



Pig. 41. — Liver disorder (Mathew). 



as primary liver disease, although occasionally it induces 

 such changes of the organ as to render it unfit to perform 

 its duties. Treatment of chronic disorder of the liver com- 

 prises careful regulation of the bowels by the use of salines, 

 especially Epsom salts combined with sal ammoniac and 

 nitre ; small doses of calomel and podophyllin are often 

 beneficial to arouse the torpid organ to action. Aloes 

 also may be given and the mineral acids in small doses, 

 especially the hydrochloric, are likely to prove beneficial. 

 Occasional stimulation of the skin of the right hypochon- 

 drium, such as by painting it with tincture of iodine, as 

 advocated by Hill, may be resorted to. Careful regulation 

 of diet and exercise will prove more useful than medicine, 



