250 Report on Steppe Murrain or liinderpest. 



rumen and reticulum. The contents of the omasum are fre- 

 quently so dry and hard that they can be rubbed to powder 

 between the fingers. This has been considered by many con- 

 tinental pathologists as a peculiarity attaching to this disease, 

 and hence the term Loser diirre has been given to the malady. 

 In three consecutive post mortem examinations, as well as in 

 many others, we found that no alteration either of the omasum 

 or of its contents existed which was incompatible with perfect 

 health. 



The mucous membrane of the abomasum is always highly 

 congested, more especially towards the pylorus ; and its follicles 

 are in an analogous state to those of the fauces, velum, Sec. The 

 duodenum, jejunum, and ileum are similarly affected, but to a 

 greater extent. These intestines often present a bluish aspect 

 on their serous surface, which is entirely due to the turges- 

 cence of the vessels of the mucous membrane ; this being seen 

 through the other coats, gives a greater depth of colour to it than 

 natural. Peyer's glands are not invariably diseased, but, like 

 other follicular openings of the digestive canal, they are often 

 covered with layers of lymph, beneath which ulceration is occa- 

 sionally observed, but more frequently the surface is healthy, 

 although turgid with blood. 



The chief ravages of the disease as we have met with them are 

 in the large intestines. The blind end of the colon — the coecum 

 — was, in one case in particular, ulcerated over several inches of 

 its inner surface, that is, numerous small and distinct ulcers 

 existed, which had evidently had their origin in the follicles of 

 the mucous coat. Thin deposits of lymph, varying in size from 

 that of a pea to the end of the finger — scabs as they have been 

 designated — usually stud the large intestines almost throughout 

 their whole extent. They are of a dirty yellow colour, and 

 adhere with tolerable firmness to the mucous membrane beneath. 

 In some places ulceration is found to be going on in the mem- 

 brane ; in others this destructive process has ceased and the 

 healing one commenced, and in most no change in structure 

 can be observed. The terminal portion of the rectum is gene- 

 rally implicated to a far less extent. 



The substance of the liver is healthy ; the gall-ducts, however, 

 contain layers of effused lymph ; and sometimes to an amount 

 sufficient to block up their passages. The gall-bladder is filled 

 with bile possessing its ordinary characters, but the inner surface 

 of the bladder is not unfrequently in precisely the same state as 

 the mucous membrane of the large intestines. 



The kidneys are healthy, and the urinary and generative 

 systems apparently unaffected. 



The larynx is occasionally slightly ulcerated, particularly on 



