AMYLOID DEGENERATION OF THE LIVER. 



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cells are affected by fatty degeneration. In addition, we may see 

 a considerable gastric dilatation and lesions of catarrh (a slaty col- 

 oration and hypertrophy of the gastro-intestinal mucous membrane). 

 All treatments directed against the Schweinsberg disease have been 

 unsuccessful. In the country where it exists the owners of horses 

 know its fatal course perfectly well ; they therefore get rid of their 

 animals at the beginning of the trouble, when the stock is yet in 

 good condition, and have preserved enough vigor to be exposed 

 for sale. 



AMYLOID DEGENERATION OP THE LIVER. 



Amyloid degeneration of the liver has been found alone or co- 

 existing Avith degeneration of the kidneys, the spleen, or the intes- 

 tine. It has been found in the horse, the dog, the ox, the sheep, 

 the rabbit, and in poultry. 



Etiology. In our domestic animals the principal causes of this 

 affection are cachectic conditions, chronic inflammations, and sup- 

 purations of long duration. In 50 per cent, of the cases of amyloid 

 degeneration of the liver observed by Rabe in the horse, the altera- 

 tion took place under the influence of pleurisy, pericarditis, or 

 chronic peritonitis. This author has also found it in cases of 

 hydrothorax and muscular suppuration. Caparini has found it in 

 exudative pleurisy, orchitis, phlebitis, and cachexia. Bruckmiiller 

 has found it in oxen affected by chronic nephritis. It may finally 

 depend upon the alimentary regimen and the conditions under 

 which the animals have been kept : it is under these circumstances 

 that Bruckmiiller has observed it in animals which consumed malt, 

 and Werner saw it in lambs fed largely upon oats and kept in con- 

 fined stables. 



From these facts it results that amyloid degeneration is due to 

 the same causes in animals as in humaa beings. The following 

 causes are especially suspected of producing the trouble in man : 

 chronic pulmonary phthisis, intestinal tuberculosis, suppurations of 

 long duration, syphilis, broncho- ectasia, dysenteric intestinal ulcer- 

 ations, pyelitis, fistulse, and ulcerated carcinoma. 



Pathological anatomy. The liver which has undergone amy- 

 loid degeneration is hypertrophied, its edges are thick and rounded ; 

 in the horse, contrary to what exists in man, its consistence is soft 

 and clammy ; its substance is very friable ; it is anemic, of a 



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