Hepatite

( Min. ) A brown, fetid sulphate of baryta. Hepatitis, n. [Gr. hepatitis, belonging to the liver, from hepar, the liver.] ( Med.) Inflammation of the liver. The history and symptoms of this disease have been particularly dwelt upon in all medical works from the earliest periods. Until very recent times, when the attention of physicians was more especially called to diseases of the gastro-intestinal mucous membrane,heretofore a field comparatively unexplored, this af fection, and its subsidiary diseases, were more studied than any other lesion of the digestive apparatus. In temperate latitudes H. is a rare disease; but in tropical climates it is often so acute, sudden, and fatal, as to defy medical treatment. The principal indications of the disease are, pain in the right side and shoulder, tenderne in the right hypochondrium when pre ed, together with enlargement of the liver, often vomiting, always fever, with lo of appetite, and a foul tongue. It is frequently accompanied by jaundice. H. sometimes terminates in absce es, which, on some occasions, require to be opened externally. Profe ional a istance is nece ary with regard to them, as the treatment is complicated. After the disease has been subdued, vegetable tonics are useful in restoring the digestive powers. When the disease has supervened in a warm climate, a removal to a more temperate region is always advisable. Hepatization, n. (Med.) Conversion into a liver like substance; - applied to the lungs when gorged with effused matter, so that they are no longer pervious to the air.