Inflammation of capsule of liver (external and Glisson’s). Causes: Traumas, infective diseases, phlebitis of the portal vein, chill, distomatosis. Lesions: Peritonitis and inflammation of the capsule in patches, yellowish gray exudate, fibroid thickening or pus. Adhesions to adjacent objects. Thickening of trabeculæ. Symptoms, tardy respiration and circulation, tender hypochondrium, colics, diarrhœa, painful defecation, moan with expiration. Slight cases recover. Sequelæ: compression of portal vein or bile duct, gastric catarrh, piles, etc. Treatment: Salines, alkaline diuretics, mineral tonics, bitters.
This is inflammation of the external capsule of the liver and Glisson’s capsule. It may arise from direct mechanical injury, or by extension of inflammation from adjacent structures, such as the peritoneum. It may also complicate contagious pneumonia in the horse, tuberculosis in the ox, pneumoenteritis in pigs, and also phlebitis of the vena portæ (Cadeac, Morot). It may follow a chill, or distomatosis.
Lesions. These are essentially peritonitis circumscribed by the liver, and extending to the proper capsule, and its vaginal investments of the hepatic vessels. It is usually limited to certain spots which become the seats of a yellowish gray exudation, with a tendency to fibroid development and thickening, but sometimes degenerating into pus. The deposits on the outer side of the hepatic peritoneum may develop false membranes and fibrous adhesions to surrounding objects, the diaphragm, omentum, stomach or intestine. The deposits under the peritoneum lead to similar fibrous development with hypertrophy or thickening of the capsule, the trabeculæ extending thence into the liver and the vaginal sheaths of the vessels. Such areas of thickening are revealed as depressed spots or patches of a white color, and showing a firm fibrous, pearly appearance when incised. Such lesions are not uncommon in the livers of horses, cattle and swine. In the pig they may have a violet, or brownish red color, but with spots of other colors—grayish or brownish (Kitt).
Symptoms. Dopheïde, who has studied the disease in cows and to a less extent in horses, found a reduction in pulsations (26 per minute) and respirations (6 per minute) in connection with a mild peritonitis, intestinal catarrh, colicy pains and diarrhœa. The conjunctiva is pale, the pulse compressible, the respirations unequal and accompanied by a moan, and the appetite impaired or lost.
If confined to mere spots on the liver, a restoration to apparently vigorous health may take place, but if extensive it may lead to compression and obstruction of the portal vein or bile duct, or to compression and atrophy of the liver, with corresponding symptoms.
Treatment. As in other congestions of the liver, the use of salines to deplete the portal system, and of alkaline diuretics are especially indicated, to be followed by bitters and mineral acids. Sinapisms and other counter-irritants to the region of the liver are of great service. If not complicated with abscess, or microbian infection, cases of this kind will often do well.
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.