Post-mortem Examination 119 



as to its color and whether it is clotted. Thin black 

 blood with a disagreeable odor indicates the presence of 

 germs, and blood poisoning or a contagious or infec- 

 tious disease is to be suspected. If the white tissues are 

 abnormally yellow, a disease of the liver is indicated. 



After the skin is removed, the fore leg on the upper 

 side should be removed, the ribs cut off a few inches 

 from the backbone and down the middle of the chest. 

 The soft tissues should be cut and the whole covering 

 of one side removed. This exposes all the organs in 

 the chest and abdominal cavities. In cutting into the 

 cavities, the quantity of watery fluid that escapes, its 

 color and its odor, should be noticed. If an abnormal 

 quantity escapes from the abdomen it indicates dropsy 

 or a rupture of the bladder. In the latter case the 

 characteristic odor of urine is present. If the fluid is 

 red in color it indicates an inflammation of the bowels 

 or the lining membrane of the abdomen, or the pres- 

 ence of blood. The fluid of the chest cavity is also 

 important. An excessive quantity indicates an inflam- 

 mation of the lungs. In this case there are usually 

 fibrous adhesions between the lungs and the chest -wall. 



The external color of the stomach and intestines is 

 important. If red, the organs are congested; and if 

 dark red or purple in color, inflamed. The presence 

 of tumors, abscesses or growths on the intestines, liver, 

 spleen or inside abdominal walls should be looked for, 

 as well as the appearance of the gall-bladder in cattle, 

 sheep and swine. The size of the abdominal organs 

 is also important. The quantity, kind and condition 

 of the food in the stomach and intestines are important, 



