In the progress of formation of an abscess in the liver, as branches of the portal or hepatic veins are reached, inflammation of their coats is excited, which results in their obliteration, thus generally preventing the admission of pus into the venous system. But as the enlarging abscess encroaches upon the hepatic ducts, instead of these becoming closed by inflammation, they ulcerate through, and thus establish a communication between these vessels and the cavity of the abscess. Hence the pus contained in these abscesses, is very likely to be mingled with more or less bile; while at the same time, a portion of the contents may be discharged through the common duct into the bowels. Abscess of the liver may result from inflammation and ulceration of the bile ducts, from the irritation of impacted calculi, or from the presence of intestinal worms that have entered by the ductus communis; or from the lodgment of emboli in some branch of the portal vein or hepatic artery. =Secondary, Pyæmic or Metastatic Abscess.= The liver is occasionally the seat of abscesses forming as a result of _pyæmia_, induced by absorption of pus from some wound of a joint, vein, or bone; or from a diffused abscess or erysipelas of the skin. These abscesses usually contain a somewhat thin and oily-looking pus. They also differ from ordinary abscesses in the rapidity with which they form, a few days generally sufficing to give them a large size. The insidious manner in which they form—the tissues breaking down, as it were, without any inflammation—constitutes a distinguishing feature of these collections. Pyæmic abscesses of the liver are usually many in number, and varying in size from a pea to that of a walnut. The gland is usually enlarged at the same time, and in some cases to such an extent as to reach quite to the umbilicus. This form of abscess is not confined to the liver, but may be found in the lungs, spleen, in the joints, or in the serous cavities, and sometimes diffused through the connective tissues and muscles of the limbs or trunk. Degenerations of the Liver. =Waxy, Lardaceous, or Amaloyd Liver.= In this form of disease, the liver undergoes greater enlargement than in any other disease excepting cancer. The enlargement is uniform in every direction, so that the form of the gland is unchanged. Pain and tenderness are never prominent symptoms of this disease, hence the liver may be manipulated during life with impunity, the patient complaining only of weight and tightness in the right hypochondrium. The progress of the disease is usually slow, extending, in most cases, over several years. The spleen, kidneys and intestines will frequently be found presenting this change at the same time.