animal refuses to eat, is constipated, or has diarrhoea. The faeces may be
grayish colored or foul smelling. Colicky pains are sometimes manifested.
Usually the animal acts dull and weak. A raise in body temperature may be
noted. The visible mucous membranes may appear yellowish- or brownish-red in
color.

_Treatment_.--Animals grazing over well drained pastures that are free from
injurious weeds and provided with plenty of drinking water, seldom develop
diseases of the liver. Exercise, a natural diet and plenty of clean water,
as well as preventing liver disorders, may be classed among the most
important of all curative agents. Laxatives or cathartics, such as oils,
salts, aloes, and calomel, in small doses may be given. We prefer the
administration of oil or aloes to horses, Glauber's or Epsom salts to
ruminants, and calomel to dogs. The administration of minimum doses of
these drugs, and repeating the dose after a short interval, is preferable
to large doses. Alkaline tonics are also indicated. The following mixture
may be given: bicarbonate of soda, sulfate of soda and common salt, eight
ounces of each, and powdered gentian and sulfate of iron, four ounces of
each. Large animals may be given a small tablespoonful of this mixture with
the feed three times a day. The dose for sheep and hogs is one teaspoonful.
A very light, easily digested ration should be fed.


QUESTIONS

1. What can be said of the importance of the liver?

2. Tell something of its duties as a gland.

3. In what animals are liver troubles most conspicuous when present?