Report on the Health of Animals of the Farm. 559 



observed after death, fully established the identity of the affection with that 

 form of blood-poisoning which is termed ^^ Splenic Apoplexy." This view of 

 the nature of the affection was strengthened b\- microscopical examination of 

 the blood, which exhibited the usual minute organisms (Bacteridies) in large 

 numbers, which are ordinarily present in this afiection. This opinion is 

 further confirmed by the inoculation of a rabbit with the diseased blood, death 

 following in thirty-six hours. 



From a careful inquiry into all the circumstances relating to the general 

 management of the herd, I am of opinion that the disease had its origin in 

 the too free use of succulent and innutritious food, in the form of sprouted 

 turnips, and coarse and badly-got hay. This conclusion is supported by the 

 fact that those animals which were receiving a fair amount of cake in addition 

 to their other food, although in other respects under similar management, were 

 free from disease. The measures adopted for arresting the further progress of 

 the malady consisted of an entire change in the character of the food, substi- 

 tuting for the sprouted turnips — cake, corn, and bran ; and the administration 

 of antiseptic and tonic agents. At the same time due regard was had to 

 every precaution relating to the disposal of the carcases, and such other 

 matters as were calculated to keep the disease in a state of activity. 



J. WoETLEY Axe, 



Assistant Professor. 



2. Meport of an Investigation of an Outbreak of Splenic Apoplexy 

 among some Bullocks belonging to Mr. F. Freeman, Springwell Farm, 

 Woburn. 



On the 16th of June I visited Springwell Farm, and investigated the circum- 

 stances relating to an outbreak of splenic apoplexy in a herd of cattle belong- 

 ing to Mr. F. Freeman. The herd to which the outbreak refers consisted of ten 

 steers, ten heifers, and two milch cows. The former were pastured in a field 

 adjoining the farmstead (Home-Close), which is remarkable for the richness 

 of its herbage, and good feeding properties. Besides grass, these animals 

 were receiving about four pounds of linseed-cake daily. The heifers and milch 

 cows were pastured in a field contiguous to the Home-Close (London-Close) until 

 the 5th of June, on which day one of the steers was found dead, A change of 

 pasture being considered advisable, in consequence of the death of this animal, 

 the remainder of the steers were removed from the Home into the London-Close, 

 and at the same time the heifers and milch cows were placed in the Home- 

 Close, from which the steers had been taken. On the 12th of June, one of the 

 heifers died after a few hours' illness, and on the 16th of the same month one of 

 the milch cows also succumbed to the disease. The nine heifers and remaining 

 milch cow were now removed from the Home-Close into an adjacent pasture. A 

 post-mortem examination of the cow which died on the 16th was made by me. 

 The lesions observed were such as are usually found in connection with the 

 malady known as Splenic Apoplexy, and from the information! obtained, I am 

 of opinion that the death of the steer, and also of the heifer, arose from this 

 same disease. The original cause of the malady, probably, depended on a too 

 liberal supply of nutritious food, following upon the removal of the steers from 

 ■a moderate pasture into the Home-Close. It is also highly probable that the 

 extension of the malady was due, in part, to the herbage of the pasture becoming 

 impregnated with the excretions of the diseased steer. 



With a view of arresting the further progress of the malady, it was sug- 

 gested that no animal of any kind should be allowed to pasture in the Home- 

 Close for two months at the least ; that all the fresh manure, as far as prac- 

 ticable, should be removed from this pasture, and that the stables in which the 



