282 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS, 



disease is recognized in but the smallest number of the cases ; it is 

 almost always confounded with some other affection, and mainly 

 with gastro-intestinal catarrh. As diagnostic symptoms of the 

 disease — although frequently wanting — may be looked for, in the 

 dog, the sensitive condition of the region of the liver (left and 

 right hypochondria), and a slight icterus due to the compression 

 of the biliary canals by the distended hepatic veins. The serious 

 hyperemias may be complicated by laceratious of the liver and by 

 rapidly fatal hemorrhages. 



Treatment. We regulate the diet, walk the patients, or leave 

 them at liberty in a box stall, and also administer laxatives — arti- 

 ficial Carlsbad salts in preference to all others : such are its principal 

 indications. 



In our animals the diagnosis during life of diseases of the liver 

 is extremely difficult ; ordinarily it is made only upon the dissecting- 

 table. The numerous errors of diagnosis committed in these cases 

 are easily explained, if we reflect that the symptoms are usually 

 very vague and are common to other affections, also that palpation 

 of the suffering organ is almost an impossibility, and that its per- 

 cussion is impracticable on account of the quadrupedal attitude of 

 the animals. 



RUPTURE OP THE LIVER: HEPATIC APOPLEXY. 



Etiology. Laceration of the liver with a partial destruction of 

 the hepatic parenchyma and hemorrhage into the peritoneum are 

 ordinarily the effects of an intense mechanical action. The prin- 

 cipal causes are : falling, uncontrollable movements performed by 

 animals affected with colics, contusions of the region of the hypo- 

 chondria, and violent exertions (Friend). 



In the great majority of cases, these mechanical influences only 

 rupture the liver, when this organ is predisposed to it by some 

 alterations of its parenchyma or of its vessels. Among the altera- 

 tions we must cite, in the first place, the amyloid degeneration. 

 Lately, various authors (Caparini, Johne, Rabe) have insisted upon 

 the relation of amyloid degeneration to rupture of the liver, which 

 is said to be produced because of a greater friability of the tissue 

 of the organ, together with a lessened resistance on the part of its 

 vessels. Fatty degeneration (Siedamgrotzky and others) and in- 

 flammatory or hyperemic diseases (Ziindel, Julian) act after the 



