DISEASES OF THE SPLEEN. 



Diseases of the spleen are somewhat rare, but some 

 of them, such as moderate enlargement, &c, may exist for 

 years without causing serious inconvenience. The spleen 

 weighs from 3 to 4 pounds. When enlarged it sometimes 

 weighs from 1-4 to 20 and even 50 pounds. 



Percivall describes inflammation, cancer, and rupture of 

 the spleen. Williams says atrophy (wasting), thrombosis 

 (coagulation of blood), tubercle, cancer, hydatids, and 

 ossification are found after death. He also says that 

 American horses suffer from an intermittent fever in 

 which the spleen becomes enlarged. Robertson describes 

 surface growths of the spleen, the same in size as those 

 of the liver (from hazel-nut to orange), of grayish-white 

 color and usually firm consistence, with an immense num- 

 ber of tubercle-bacilli (mites). Some of these latter cases 

 cause much debility. 



