Liver cirrhosis. Artwork taken from Sir Robert Carswell's textbook Pathological Anatomy, published 1838. Cirrhosis is a disease in which the liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue, severely disrupting the function of the liver and eventually leading to fatal liver failure. It is characterised by a mottled and lumpy appearance of the liver. Cirrhosis is usually caused by alcoholism or infection by the hepatitis C virus. Carswell (1793-1857) was a British doctor who specialised in the study of pathological anatomy.