288 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



retics. It is also necessary to regulate the alimentation and give 

 especially green food. The so-called Schweinsberg disease is a par- 

 ticular form of chronic interstitial hepatitis, similar to that observed 

 in lupinosis. It was first recognized in Schweinberg, in the valley 

 of the Ohm (Hesse), and later in the valleys of Glon and Zusam 

 (Bavaria), as well as in other regions. It seems to depend upon 

 telluric conditions and on the particular constitution and properties 

 of the plants which are consumed by the animals. It appears in 

 the form of a persistent local enzootic in districts which are ex- 

 posed to frequent freshets and in countries where the soil is turfy 

 and swampy. It is unknown upon the high lands and on farms 

 located at a certain height. It is admitted that it is produced by 

 irritating substances, which act slowly but constantly upon the 

 liver (like alcohol or lupinotoxine). Its intimate causes are hardly 

 known. In the Glon Valley the alimentation of clover has been 

 generally considered as the principal cause of its development. It 

 has been stated that it more frequently affects horses between the 

 eighth and tenth year, but more recent observations seem to weaken 

 this assertion. At Schweinsberg the disease has been the cause of 

 the death of all the horses of several stables. At first the symp- 

 toms are very vague, and often unperceived ; in other cases they 

 are confounded with those of chronic gastro-intestinal catarrh. The 

 appetite is capricious ; the animals gape often, and are depressed or 

 affected by abdominal pains. These manipulations may persist 

 without special modification for a period varying from several 

 weeks to a few months. Then, in most instances, we have the 

 manifestation of icterus and symptoms of immobility (a staggering 

 gait, leaning of the head upon the manger, tottering, etc.), to which 

 are added attacks of colic, constipation, and fever. There is often 

 absolute anorexia. The emaciation increases with the persistence 

 of the disease. From time to time a passing improvement may be 

 observed; but soon the symptoms grow aggravated, the limbs 

 œdematous, and death follows from exhaustion. Some cases have 

 been related where death occurred within three or four days ; the 

 duration of the affection varies generally from a few weeks to nine 

 months. At times death happens abruptly duriug the course of the 

 colics, through the rupture of the stomach (Fried berger). 



At the autopsy we find alterations in the liver which consist 

 mainly of an inflammatory hyperplasia of the interstitial and inter- 

 lobular connective tissue (Bonnet), with centres where the hepatic 



