Icterus

(ikf-ter-us) [inrepog, jaundice]. Jaundice. I. gravis, acute yellow atrophy of the liver, an acute disease characterized by jaundice, marked nervous symptoms, diminution in size of the liver, and a rapidly fatal termination. The urine contains bile and crystals of leucin and tyros in. Microscopically, the liver shows intense fatty degeneration of the cells, together with areas of congestion. The disease is most common in women, is in many cases a ociated with pregnancy, and is probably infectious in origin. A similar condition of the liver may occur in phosphorus-poisoning. I. neon a to rum, that which is sometimes observed in infants during the first few days after birth. The causes are obscure, particularly in the mild form; it may be due to the absorption of biliary pigment from the meconium and its entrance into the circulation through an open duct us venosus; a severe form is due to absence of the large bile-ducts, or to septic infection. 327