SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
377 
in the so-called flatulent colic, which formerly was supposed to be due simply to fer¬ 
mentation of the food. Bile also acts as an natural purgative by increasing the secretion 
of the intestinal glands, therefore, if the supply is curtailed we are pretty sure to have 
indigestion, constipation, etc., follow as a sequel. If however, the supply is increased 
beyond normal we have as a sequel diarrhoea, and I might state in this connection 
that it is my opinion that a great many cases of chronic diarrhoea are caused by a pre¬ 
ponderance of the bile being thrown into the intestines a condition which is due to an 
over active liver. Bile acting as a local irritant stimulates peristaltic action of the 
bowels and increases the vermicular motion, thereby propelling or forcing the food 
through their channel; knowing this fact we can readily see why a lack of this natural 
irritant which produces peristalsis wall be followed by torpidity, paralysis, impaction, 
inflammation, and gangrene of the intestines. While it is possible to attribute and 
perhaps trace all lesions of the intestinal tract to be due to a morbid liver, yet I do not 
wish you to think that I advocate this idea, for I am fully aware of the fact that there 
may be and are numerous diseases ot the intestines which have no connection with and 
are independent of any pathological changes in the liver, but as there are so many in¬ 
testinal disorders which are liable to follow hepatic disturbances, I would suggest that 
a very rigid examination of the liver be made when called upon to administer to any 
animal affected with any disease of the visceral organs. 
In establishing proof or in substantiating the above statements, I will with your 
kind permission describe one of these particular cases which in my estimation have 
their origin in the hepatic gland. For instance, you are called to see a case which on 
your first examination will be lying down in the recumbent position or standing in the 
stall, comparatively speaking, quiet, but upon closer examination you will notice that 
from time to time he will look around at his flank, or elevate the head and turn up the 
upper lip. If we now, supposing the animal to be lying down, make him get up, he 
will walk around the stall a few times and will apparently make at intervals attempts 
to urinate, or to lie down again, finally if he does not lie down he will go into one cor¬ 
ner of the stall and stand there for some time in an attitude apparently of repose. 
Upon still closer examination you will find the pulse running from forty to sixty, tem¬ 
perature one hundred and one to one hundred and two, the conjunctive will be of a 
dirty reddish yellow color. If you now manipulate the mouth you will find that the 
tongue and mouth have a furred and soapy feeling, and the breath has a sour fetid 
odor; upon auscultation at the flank you will notice an absence of borborygmous sounds 
that clearly indicate that there is an absence of perisaltic action of the bowels, upon 
percussion over the region of the liver on the right side the animal usually evinces 
pain. The fecal matter passed is dry, hard and thickly covered with mucous and is 
passed in small quantities, in some cases the sphincter ani has lost its contractability 
which leaves a permanent dilation of the rectum. If no relief is given the animal will 
usually linger on in this condition apparently with no perceptible change for from 
eight to twelve days when you will notice a change for the worse, when enteritis sets in 
and the animal quickly succumbs to its baneful effects. If properly treated howevei, 
a successful issue may be looked for in from three to five days. 
Now, gentlemen, believing that all of you have from time to time been called to 
prescribe for like cases when you felt as I have done on numerous occasions that you 
were, if you will permit me to use a hackneyed expression, “at sea” regarding the 
