Affections of the liver, or when the secretion or excretion of bile is perverted, the symptom known as jaundice results.
Very few people are unacquainted with the characteristic yellow colouration of the skin and visible mucous membranes.
The word "jaundice" comes from the French "jaune," yellow, and "icterus," a Greek word for golden thrush.
The yellow colour of the skin, white of eyes, mucuous membranes lining eyelids and cheeks is, of course diagnostic that the colouring matter of the bile is circulating throughout the system.
The urine is usually deep yellow and very scanty, and the motions often clay-coloured and hard, though this latter condition is frequently absent, in fact diarrhoea present.
This is particularly well marked in the so-called hepatic or bilious form of distemper.
Gall-stones, when impacted in the bile-ducts, give rise to jaundice and colic pains.
There is also a catarrhal condition of the bile-ducts that leads to the same jaundiced condition.
As a considerable number of dogs succumb to this affection, very careful treatment is necessary. Linseed and mustard poultices over the region of the liver, and a hot bath, will often work miracles. Soda-water and milk should constitute the only nourishment for a few days, unless it be teaspoonful doses of Brand's Essence of Beef.
A grain of calomel along with a quarter teaspoonful of sugar, night and morning for two or three days (until the bowels are open), will be found to do good in most instances. Further treatment can, with advantage, be left to the veterinarian, so much depending upon individual conditions.
Although purely of a surgical nature, it may not be out of place to mention that any organ or tissue in any part of the body may be the seat of a rupture.
Ruptures of the stomach (rare in the dog), bladder, liver, blood-vessels, bowels, muscles, etc., are of occasional occurrence.
A very common rupture is that known as "umbilical," many puppies showing this swelling in the region of the navel. Frequently it disappears with increasing age. It is of little importance.
Rupture of the wall of the belly and protrusion of the bowels, etc., is a serious condition, demanding immediate professional aid.
This is equally applicable when the generative organs or perinæum are injured.