Forms of hepatitis: Parenchymatous hepatitis. Definition: Degeneration
of hepatic cells. Relation to enteritis and nephritis. In
horse—causes:—as in congestion, pampering, spoiled fodder, malt,
inundated meadows, chill, overfeeding, hot moist climate,
hæmoglobinæmia, infection. In cattle—causes:—forcing ration, hot
weather, overwork, infection. In dog—causes:—infection from alimentary
canal. Lesions: Enlarged, softened liver, round edges, a week later
yellow atrophy, granular on section, bloodless. Acini with indefinite
margins, cells granular, nuclei lost. In dog centres of softening.
Symptoms:—in horse: Attack sudden, rigor, fever, dullness,
prostration, yellowish red mucosæ, unsteady gait, slight colic,
anorexia, urine decreased, glairy, brownish red, groaning in
defecation, excited circulation and breathing, increased icterus by
third day, fœtid, colorless diarrhœa. Diagnosis: Coincidence of fever,
prostration, icterus, painful defecation, fœtid diarrhœa, light color
of stools, tenderness and flatness on percussing hepatic area. From
influenza by absence of watering eyes and contagion. Prognosis in
horse: Very grave unless urine is free. Treatment in horse: Portal
depletion, calomel, ipecacuan, salines, diuretics, fomentation of
loins, antiseptics, derivatives, mineral acids, bitters. Careful
laxative diet in convalescence. Symptoms in cattle: Slower onset,
anorexia, dullness, depression, drivelling saliva, grinding teeth,
icterus, constipation, later fœtid diarrhœa, pale colored stools,
recumbency, groans on rising, arching back, tender right
hypochondrium, fever. Prognosis grave. Death in five to six days.
Treatment as in horse: Only saline laxatives. Symptoms in dog:
Muscular tremors, staring coat, hyperthermia, icterus, fœtid breath,
ventral decubitus, extreme prostration, anorexia, tender right
hypochondrium, diminished urine, death in two or three days. Treatment
in dog: Calomel and jalap, diuretics, laxatives, derivatives,
germicides, in convalescence, mineral acids, bitters, careful diet.
The different forms of inflammation of the liver are distinguished
according as they affect, especially the hepatic cells and tissue of the
acini (parenchymatous), as they result in suppuration (suppurative,
catarrhal, abscess), as they cause necrobiosis in nodular masses
(infectious or necrotic), as they lead to fibroid thickening under the
peritoneum and proper capsule (perihepatitis); or as they cause general
fibroid induration of the organ by increase of its connective tissue
(cirrhosis).