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.