Nineteenth Annual meeting. 6& 



had been "crazy" — suffering from the effects of the indulgence for a long time, but, 

 since grass was becoming abundant and loco scarce on the pasturage, she had very 

 recently been improving. This animal was placed at my disposal for examination. 

 Dr. Harding, of Dodge City, was engaged to assist in the contemplated post-mortem, 

 but as he was found too busy at the time, I was thrown upon my own resources. 

 Fortunately, however, I was not without valuable assistance. Mr. A. J. Smith, a re- 

 cent graduate of the department of pharmacy, who had also taken the preliminary 

 medical course of the University, accompanied me, and we, together with Mr. Steele 

 to do the butchering and heavy work, made the post-mortem. The animal was four 

 years old, but Mr. Steele said no larger than she was at two years. The feeding upon 

 loco had not only stopped her growth, but made her quite poor and gave her a wasted 

 appearance. She seemed stupid and debilitated, unsteady in her movements, the 

 breathing was short and rapid, and muscular force very much impaired. Whether 

 walking or standing, the head was unsteady and trembling. It was seemingly beyond 

 her power to so control the muscles as to keep her head perfectly still. Mr. Steele 

 stated that a sort of wild stare had been in her eyes, but that had recently disap- 

 peared. 



POST-MOKTEM. 



The blood was light but not abnormal; having no instrument at hand, it was not 

 microscopally examined. The paunch was in a normal condition; the reticulum and 

 psalterium were softened and apparently diseased. Through the entire length of 

 the intestines there seemed to be a degeneration of tissue, being on the inside pecu- 

 liarly soft. Two or three perforations were observed in the small intestine. Both 

 the large and small intestines were delicate, devoid of elasticity, and even upon care- 

 ful handling in some places they would be torn or broken apart. The tissue seemed 

 to be, as one expressed it, rotten in some places. The peritoneum and omentum 

 were inflamed, and throughout were found tumors about the size of a pea, which were 

 fleshy in appearance and of a fibrous nature. The pleura appeared normal, as also 

 did the diaphragm. The pericardium was streaked with red on the inner side, the 

 sac containing about a pint of liquid of a pale yellow color. The heart seemed to 

 be about one-third larger than the normal size. The mitral and tricuspid valves 

 were inflamed around the edges. The valves of the aorta appeared normal, and just 

 above them the serous coat was streaked with red; in other respects appeared nor- 

 mal. The bile was thin and watery, even after standing twenty-four hours. The 

 pancreas and spleen appeared normal; kidneys normal; inner coat of bladder soft- 

 ened. The membranes of the brain were congested and adherent. The congestion 

 may have been caused by the blow on the head previous to killing the animal. She 

 was, however, only stunned by a light blow, and then immediately bled to death. 

 The brain itself appeared paler than normal, but the bleeding may have caused thisj 

 The membranes of the spinal cord were inflamed and adherent. The cord itself ap- 

 peared normal. 



Evidently the disease was one of the mucous and serous membranes, which would 

 account for the nervous and debilitated condition of the animal. The general dis- 

 eased condition of the alimentary canal, by interfering with digestion and proper 

 nutrition, would account for stunted growth and weakness in traveling. This patho- 

 logical condition would indicate a treatment recommended by Dr. Harding, as fol- 

 lows: 



Pulverized extract belladonna 10 grs. 



Corrosive sublimate 1 to 1^ grs. 



Licorice 1 oz. 



Glycerine q. s. 



Mix. Make a thin paste, and give a tablespoonful. The belladonna and mercury 

 may be increased according to the severity of the symptoms. Opium combined 



