Diseases of cattle, sheep, goats and swineMoussu, G. (Gustave)
Science
Diseases of cattle, sheep, goats and swine
Moussu, G. (Gustave)
Veterinary medicine
These symptoms do not point with sufficient clearness to a special
visceral lesion, but as they call for a complete examination, the
practitioner is almost forced to a certain conclusion by the fact that
the examination remains negative except in regard to the liver. The
liver seems large and sensitive, and may sometimes be considerably
hypertrophied, for cases have been seen in the ox where the normal
weight of 10 to 12 lbs. has been increased to 60 or even 100 lbs., while
in the pig, whose liver normally weighs 4 lbs., the weight has been as
high as 20 or 40 lbs. In such cases percussion and palpation show that
the liver extends beyond the right hypochondriac region and invades a
large portion of the corresponding flank. But such great enlargement is
exceptional, and when only a dozen vesicles are present, although the
functions of the liver may be seriously disturbed, the information
obtained by physical examination is seldom sufficient to justify an
exact diagnosis. The liver is found to be enlarged and thickened;
otherwise the examination gives negative results.
[Illustration: $1]
[Illustration: $1]
The diarrhœa may result from failure of the liver to secrete sufficient
bile to destroy intestinal toxins, or to carry on its glycogenic
function; but it may possibly be the direct result of chronic
intoxication by the contents of the vesicles.
Experience has shown, in fact, that in man, when a superficial vesicle
becomes ruptured, the peritoneal cavity is flooded with the contents of
the cyst; the daughter cysts adhere to the peritoneum, and that almost
invariably vascular disturbance occurs, accompanied by itching of the
skin and an eruption resembling that of urticaria.
The liquid of the vesicles contains an active toxalbumin.
=Diagnosis.= In certain cases, diagnosis is possible, and even easy, but
in others it is extremely difficult and almost impossible.
=Prognosis.= The prognosis is always grave, for if the lesions in the
liver do not produce death, as usually happens, they so profoundly
affect the animals’ general state, that it is no longer worth while to
keep them alive.
No practical treatment exists. In exceptional cases it certainly might
be possible, although in the large herbivora always difficult, to expose
the liver and to puncture and evacuate the contents of some of the
cysts; but the result would be illusory, because some vesicles would
always be inaccessible, and economically intervention would be
incomplete and useless.
[Illustration: $1]
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