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DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



the expulsion of fatty excrementitious matters. In the ox, the 

 pig, the dog, and the cat, the pancreatic canal connecting with the 

 intestine is at a point somewhat distant from the ductus communis, 

 and icteric complication is not observed, which is to be expected in 

 the horse, the sheep, and the goat, animals in which the ductus 

 communis and pancreatic canals discharge into the intestine by a 

 common opening (Vater's ampulla). In these latter species the 

 inflamed dilated pancreatic canal may compress the ductus chole- 

 dochus, plug it up, and prevent the discharge of the bile. 



Mégnin and Nocard mention a case of this kind in a horse, whose 

 history was that he was without ambition, had the habit of be- 

 coming quickly tired, and had been eating lazily for several weeks 

 when first seen by them. The soft condition, weakness, falling off 

 of the appetite, constipation, the yellow coloration of the mucous 

 membranes and of the integument, becoming more apparent as 

 emaciation advanced, induced a suspicion of biliary calculus. 



The animal died about two months after the commencement of 

 the disease. At the autopsy were found, as essential lesions, an 

 enormous dilatation of the pancreatic canals, obstructed by a whitish 

 obstacle, of a grumous, albuminous nature, which compressed the 

 ductus choledochus at a certain distance and obstructed the dis- 

 charge of bile ; finally, also, a slight induration of the gland, the 

 parenchyma of which was whiter, firmer, and more resistant than 

 in the normal condition, the excretory canals presenting lesions of 

 catarrhal inflammation. 



Neoplasms of the pancreas are sometimes primary, but more fre- 

 quently they are secondary. Nocard has described a primary epi- 

 thelial tumor of the head of the pancreas in a dog. The animal 

 had suffered for six weeks when brought to Alfort's clinic ; he was 

 very weak and in an extremely emaciated condition ; all the in- 

 teguments were colored yellow — the conjunctiva, sclerotic, buccal, 

 anal, and vulvar mucous membranes were of a well-marked saffron 

 tint ; the urine was thick, oily, and dark yellow ; there was besides 

 quite an abundant abdominal accumulation. The diagnosis was 

 made that the icterus was produced by tumors hindering the ab- 

 dominal circulation and obliterating the ductus choledochus. The 

 patient died about two months after the appearance of the first 

 symptoms. At the autopsy a whitish tumor was found upon the 

 sub-lumbar arch, which was the size of the fist, irregularly rounded, 

 embossed, and strongly attached to the surrounding organs, and 



