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.