278 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



lations (Siedamgrotzky). Finally, we find hemorrhages in the dif- 

 ferent organs and mainly in the mucous membranes. 



Symptoms. At the outset the symptoms of gastro-duodenal 

 catarrh form the base of the clinical picture of catarrhal icterus. 

 This aifection is preceded by a disturbed digestive function, vomit- 

 ings, and often diarrhea ; the tongue is coated, and the thirst very 

 intense, etc. Soon the characteristic symptom of icterus appears. 

 Before all other tissue, the sclerotic, conjunctiva, and eyelids pre- 

 sent a yellow color with quite different shades, depending on the 

 intensity of the affection ; this tint also appears later upon other 

 visible mucous membranes, and mainly upon that of the mouth, 

 skin (dog and sheep), in the urine, perspiration, milk, etc. Accord- 

 ing to the case, the urine is of a lemon-yellow, dark brownish- 

 yellow, or greenish-yellow, due to the coloring matters of the 

 bile; these may be extracted by stirring with chloroform. Their 

 detection is ordinarily made by Gmelin's method, with the help of 

 diluted nitric acid, which is gradually added to the urine ; the green 

 tint of the mixture disappears and is replaced by blue, violet, and 

 red. We can also apply Fleisch's method: the urine is mixed with 

 a concentrated solution of Chilean nitrate, then is added concen- 

 trated sulphuric acid, which produces the same changes of color as 

 by the preceding method. Besides the coloring matters of the bile, 

 the urine contains albumin (very often in small quantity), pigment- 

 ary granulations, fat-drops, yellow-colored epithelial cells, short 

 renal cylinders much pigmented, and biliary acids. In the dog, 

 biliary matters may exist in the urine without any yellow coloring 

 of the mucous membrane; we have pointed out this fact in relation 

 with gastro-duodenal catarrh. In the horse, on the contrary, in 

 numerous cases of icterus, the urine does not seem to contain the 

 coloring matters of the bile. 



According to Latschenberger, Gmelin's method would be insuffi- 

 cient in demonstrating the presence of coloring matters of the bile 

 in the urine of the horse ; there is said to be formed a brown or 

 darkish zone masking the characteristic modifications of the color. 

 Latschenberger dilutes the urine, adds a solution of baryta, lets it 

 stand for twelve to twenty-four hours, decants the dark supernatant 

 liquid and submits it to Gmelin's test. Often, in proceeding this 

 way, the chromoscopic reaction is but little marked. 



While the introduction of the coloring matter of the bile into the 

 blood determines the yellowish tint of the organs, the resorption of 



