The function of the liver is more or less interfered with; the urine is scanty in amount and charged with deposit. Ascites of varying intensity frequently occurs; cardiac disturbance accompanies or usually precedes the above symptoms.
The lesions of passive congestion are represented by progressive dilatation of the entire portal venous system (nutmeg liver). In time this dilatation may produce biliary cirrhosis, as a result of chronic irritation of the blood-vessels and perivenous inflammation. This condition is known as “cardiac cirrhosis of the liver.”
The diagnosis of this pathological condition is generally easy, provided that the primary disease which causes it be recognised.
The prognosis is always grave, and the practitioner is limited to treating the primary affection, such as endocarditis, pericarditis, etc.
NODULAR NECROSING HEPATITIS.
This form of inflammation of the liver is somewhat rare in animals of the bovine species. The disease is difficult to diagnose, and is often only recognised on post-mortem examination.
Isolated tracts of the liver become inflamed, between which the rest of the tissue preserves its normal character; the parts affected appear to undergo complete degeneration, the cause of which is difficult to explain. On examining affected animals after death, the liver is found to be greatly enlarged, and apparently invaded by multiple tumours. On section, the parenchyma generally is of normal colour, but the diseased parts are represented by dirty greyish-yellow tissue of a lardaceous character, somewhat resistant to the knife.
The affected spots vary in size, between that of a lentil or hazel nut and an egg, and are formed of necrotic tissue.
The periphery is the seat of true chronic fibro-plastic inflammation.
