[132 Mothers’ remedies]

Physicians’ treatment for Cirrhosis of the Liver.—­It is usually fatal; sometimes even after temporary improvements.  No coffee or alcohol; simple diet, bitter tonics, keep bowels open, A physician must handle such a case.

Abscess of the liver.  Hepatic Abscess:  Suppurative Hepatitis.—­This is a circumscribed collection of pus in the liver tissue.  If there is only one abscess it is in the larger lobe in seventy per cent of the cases.  The amount of fluid contained in such an abscess may be two or three quarts and its color varies from a grayish white to a creamy reddish-brown; when the abscess is caused by a type (amebic) of dysentery, there is generally only one abscess, occurring more often in the right lobe, whereas other forms due to septic infection give rise to many abscesses.

Causes.—­This disease is rare even in tropical climates.  When it is excited by gall stones, it is invariably septic in character and the infecting material reaches the interior through the liver vessels or bile passages.  Stomach ulcers, typhoid fever, appendicitis, may bring on such an abscess.  Pus wounds of the head are sometimes followed by a liver abscess.  The most common method of infection is through the portal vein.  Other causes that may be mentioned are foreign bodies traveling up the ducts, as round-worms and parasites.

Symptoms.—­Hectic temperature, pain, tenderness, and an enlarged liver, and often slight jaundice.  In acute cases the fever rises rapidly, reaching 103 or 104 in twenty-four hours.  It is irregular and intermittent, and it may be hectic, that is, like the fever of consumption.  Shakings or decided chills frequently are present with the rise of fever and when the fever declines there may be profuse sweating.  The skin is pale and shows a slight jaundice, the conjunctiva being yellowish.  Progressive loss of strength with disturbance of the stomach and bowels is present.  The bowels are variable and constipated and loose.  Dropsy of the abdomen (Ascites) may develop, on account of pressure on the big vein, inferior vena-cava.  Lung symptoms, severe cough, reddish-brown expectoration are often present.

The abscess.—­May break into the pleural cavity, bronchial tubes, lungs and stomach, bowels, peritoneum or through the abdominal wall.

Recovery.—­The result is unfavorable as it generally goes on to a rapid termination.  The abscess should be opened and evacuated when its location can be detected.  The death rates ranges from fifty to sixty per cent.

Treatment.—­Open it if you can, Sponge liver region with cool water.  For the pain, mustard poultices, turpentine stupe or hot fomentations prove beneficial.  Keep up strength by stimulation and quinine.

[Digestive organs 133]

Diet in Liver Troubles sent us from Providence Hospital (Catholic),
Sandusky, Ohio: