Having entitled this monograph "Jaundice, its Pathology and Treatment," it may, perhaps, be necessary for me to state at the beginning that by so doing it is not to be supposed that I regard jaundice as a disease _per se_. On the contrary, I look upon it in the same light as I do albuminuria, which is not of itself a disease, but only the most prominent symptom of several widely-differing pathological conditions. So also the peculiar state of body characterised by yellow skin, saffron-coloured urine, and pipe-clay stools, is itself but a symptom of morbid action. It may be asked, "Then why do you treat of jaundice as if it were a disease?" To this I reply, "Because, although {2} the condition called jaundice be merely a manifestation of morbid action, and one, too, requiring neither skill nor experience to detect, the proper comprehension of its true mechanism is of much practical importance to the physician, for without this knowledge it is impossible for him to treat it with any chance of success. Nay, even the remedies for jaundice become dangerous weapons, if unskilfully applied." In fact, it is almost unnecessary to apologise for treating of jaundice as a disease _per se_; for, notwithstanding all that has been written upon the subject, it is universally admitted that the simplicity of its diagnosis is only equalled by the obscurity of its pathology, and the uncertainty of its treatment; and no one at all conversant with the literature of jaundice can be in the least degree surprised at this statement. On the contrary, on glancing at the immense variety of morbid states, and known pathological conditions with which it is associated, he cannot fail to admit its truth. Some of the pathological conditions are closely allied; others are widely separated--so widely, indeed, that at first sight it is impossible to discover from whence emanates the common symptom. We find jaundice connected with diseases of the liver, of the neighbouring organs, and of the general system. In some diseased conditions, {3} jaundice presents itself when least expected. At other times it is absent when, apparently, it ought to be present. On the other hand, again, there are cases in which jaundice is evidently merely a symptom, and others in which it seems to be in itself the disease. We have temporary jaundice from transient derangements, and we have permanent jaundice from stationary causes. There are cases in which the cause of jaundice is visible after death to the naked eye. There are others where the minutest research is baffled in ascertaining the cause. That this is no exaggerated view of the case the following table will show:-- JAUNDICE IS MET WITH, Firstly, IN DISEASES AFFECTING THE LIVER-- _(a)_ Cancer. _(b)_ Tubercle. _(c)_ Cirrhosis. _(d)_ Inflammation. _(e)_ Atrophy. _(f)_ Amyloid, and _(g)_ Fatty degeneration.