CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER. FIBROID DEGENERATION.
Definition. Increase of connective tissue, decrease of gland parenchyma. Causes: in man, alcoholism; in animals, chronic heart disease, chronic recurrent perihepatitis, biliary obstruction, toxins. In horses: age, emphysema, unwholesome fodders, vegetable alkaloids, infection. Symptoms: prostration, hebetude, impaired appetite, colics, constipation, later diarrhœa, unthriftiness, emaciation, dropsy, icterus, ascites, intestinal catarrh, tender hypochondrium, early fatigue. Lesions: increase of connective tissue, compression and absorption of parenchymatous tissue, greatest around portal vessels, thickening of fibrous stroma between capillaries of acini, shrunken, granular, pigmented liver cells. Treatment: salines, Glauber salts, diuretics, sodium carbonate, or iodide, or salicylate, derivatives, mineral acids, bitters, open air, laxative food, pure water. In cattle: obstruction to circulation or the flow of bile; advances from the vessels, causes absorption, caseated foci, adhesions, enlarged liver. Symptoms: jaundice, yellow, red, albuminous urine, chronic indigestion, tends to fatal though slow advance. Treatment: green food, open air life, saline laxatives, alkalies. In dog: common following heart disease, parasites, bacteria. Lesions: Congested brownish red liver, fibroid increase from Glisson’s capsule, compression of acini, their elevation above surface, fatty and pigmentary degeneration of hepatic cells, increasing sclerosis. Symptoms: as in parenchymatous hepatitis with slower advance, in time tender loins, brownish or reddish urine, ascites, intestinal catarrh, it may be icterus. Treatment: Correct cardiac troubles, digitalis, strophanthus, and intestinal, careful diet, mineral acids, bitters, pure water, saline laxatives, antiseptics, alkaline diuretics. Potassium iodide. Derivatives. Draw off liquid. Laxative non-stimulating diet.
Definition. An interstitial inflammation of the liver characterized by a great increase of the connective tissue and compression, atrophy and degeneration of the glandular elements.
The same final result may undoubtedly originate in various different primary morbid processes.
In man cirrhosis is looked upon as almost always the result of abuse of alcohol. In animals this cannot be the case, apart from a few kept in connection with breweries or distilleries.
In heart disease a long continued mechanical congestion of the liver causes compression and degeneration of the secreting cells in the centre of the acini (around the intralobular veins), while the peripheral portions undergo cell proliferation and increase of connective tissue.
In chronic or recurrent perihepatitis, a whole lobe may be compressed by the hyperplasia of the investing connective tissue, and the hepatic cells are degenerated and absorbed.
Overdistension of the biliary ducts from obstruction to the flow of bile (gall stone, catarrhal inflammation, constipation), leads to proliferation and hyperplasia in the walls of the biliary radicals throughout the entire liver.
The presence in the liver of toxic agents, ingested, or generated from microbian fermentation in the intestinal canal or liver is another recognized cause of connective tissue hyperplasia.