ANATOMICAL CHARACTERS. 685- 



summit, previous to their rupture of structure, may seem some- 

 what paler in colour than the rest of the elevation. These, 

 when minutely examined, give the idea of increased vascularity 

 and swelling either of the minute glands of the bowels, of th& 

 connective-tissue surrounding them, or of both, with, in many 

 cases, the production of a diphtheritic-looking exudate, which, 

 may be either a new product, chiefly on the free surface, but as 

 frequentlymerely the changed and removing covering membrane. 

 There is also an exudation into and amongst the submucous 

 tissue, apparently of the same texture and character with that 

 on the free surface. This new or changed material, usually of 

 a grey colour, is composed of fibrinous material and varying 

 cell-growths, which, after appearing in a tolerably firm state, 

 may undergo degeneration, or in rarer instances more perfect 

 organization. When the necrotizing process commences, which 

 it usually does on the summit of the elevation, the rupture 

 extends by inroads, and removal of tissue circumferentially 

 and in depth, the whole extending both by the removal of the 

 newly exuded material as well as by encroaching on the 

 normal structures. When healing, these sores close by rounding^ 

 of their edges and deposition of new material in their floor, 

 with a greater density of texture and an absence of gland- 

 structure. 



In those cases which I have encountered in the horse, which 

 have not been numerous, the gland-structures of the mesenter}-, 

 in connection with the portion of the bowel invaded, seemed 

 swollen, softer in texture and darker coloured. In two there 

 was a collection of rather dark-coloured fluid in the abdominal 

 cavity, with some ecch}Tnosis on different portions of the serous 

 covering of the bowel. In none have I ever witnessed perfora- 

 tion of the intestine, nor lesion of other viscera of the abdomen, 

 which I could connect with the dysentery. 



Symptoms. — In some, the earliest indications of illness may be 

 taken to represent diarrhoea, the most noticeable feature being 

 the frequent dejection of liquid faeces; in others, from the 

 outset, and usually in all when estabUshed,the fever is obtrusive, 

 and general prostration marked. In some, rigors may be 

 observed throughout the entire course of the disease ; in all, 

 the temperature is more or less elevated, with a more frequent 

 and irritable pulse. When advancing insidiously we may not 



