JAUNDICE, jan'- or jiin'dis, a morbid con dition arising from the circulation of bile in the blood, with consequent staining of the tissues and a peculiar train of symptoms resulting from the poisoning. The tint of the skin and certain mucous membranes varies from a light yellow to a brownish or saffron hue. Staining of the conjunctiva is first observed, and is most in tense. Jaundice, with reference to its origin, may be either obstructive or toxic. The term obstructive means causing a hindrance to the outflow of the bile from the gall-ducts into the intestine, with its consequent absorption into the hepatic vein and general circulation. Not only is the skin stained, but all the secretions as well, the urine becoming •dark brown. As no bile is thrown into the intestine, the stools become clay colored and usually hard. There is frequently distressing cutaneous itching, and other skin maladies are not uncommon. The blood par tially loses its power of coagulation, and the vessels are apt to allow the escape of blood into the tissues, giving rise to purpuric spots. The pulse is usually slow, and the patient somewhat melancholic. In bad cases death may follow a period of convulsions, delirium or coma. The cause of this obstruction may be anything oc cluding the lumen of the ducts from within as catarrh of the membrane of the intestine, where the bile-ducts open, or catarrh anywhere along the course of the ducts; stones or thickened bile may block up some part of the tubes, or they may be occluded from pressure on the outside by tumors, constricting bands or shrinking of the liver-substance. (See LIVER, DISEASES OP
THE). The toxic form of jaundice is due to the circulation of poisons in the blood which break down the red cells or, more rarely, destroy the liver cells. The jaundice in this form is not so intense, and the other symptoms caused by the poison are of more importance. Many of the infectious diseases, such as influenza, typhoid fever, yellow fever, pneumonia, pymmia and acute atrophy of the liver, cause this form. Mineral poisons, particularly phosphorus, act in the same way. Jaundice in the new-born is so common as to be considered a natural condition, and usually lasts but a few days. It is evident from the many conditions that may give rise to jaundice that it must be considered as a symp tom, and treatment should be directed to aiding the bodily functions until the exact cause can be determined.