SPLENIC OR PERIODIC FEVER OF CATTLE. 



101 



coiisiclered siifficicut for x^ractical purposes by many who may refer to 

 this report. 



That form of splenic fever which is mostly latent, and seen among 

 southern cattle, is not recognizable after death by the condition of 

 skin, muscular system, or, in many cases, even by the mucous membrane, 

 with the exception of that of the stomach. More or less, however, the 

 blood-extravasations, congestions, and blood-stained urine have been 

 found; but these would very rarely have been noticed but for the plan, 

 suggested by me, of inspecting all slaughtered cattle and carefully weigh- 

 ing the spleens. 



Dr. Eauch, the medical officer of the city of Chicago, no sooner ascer- 

 tained my wishes than he arranged for the supervision of all slaughter- 

 houses in Chicago ; and for weighing, in the first instance, all the spleens, 

 and, later, all the livers as well as spleens of slaughtered cattle. To Dr. 

 Eauch's energy and care we are, therefore, indebted for facts which none 

 but a medical officer of health, armed with the necessary powers, could 

 well have obtained. Inasmuch as the tables can only serve for purposes 

 of reference, it has been thought proper to publish them in an appendix ; 

 but the facts brought to light admit of being readily stated, and it is due 

 to Dr. Eauch that I should quote his report to the board of health of 

 Chicago, read on the 18th of September, in demonstration of the valuable 

 conclusions he was enabled to show very shortlj^ after adopting this 

 method of observation : 



The weight, feel, aud textiu-e of the spleen aud the couditiou of the urine have been 

 fonnd to be almost infallible in diagnosing the disease. Since the investigation com- 

 menced over two thousand spleens have been weighed. During the first few days of the 

 Investigation the spleens only were weighed, but as your committee began better to 

 comprehend the importance of the questions involved, and the value of the facts to be 

 learned, the livers were also ordered to be examined at the same time. Of these about 

 five hundred have already been weighed. The committee have only had time to present 

 the average of the three different kinds of cattle slaughtered here. 



Aggregate weight 

 Average 



175 native 

 spleens. 



Pounds. 

 2G0 



175 Texas 

 spleens. 



Ponnds. 



441 



175 Cherokee 

 (?) spleens. 



Pounds. 



3B2i 

 2. ]5 



175 native 

 livers. 



Pounds. 

 o 0071 



12.45 



175 Texan 

 livers. 



Pounds. 

 2, 1321 

 12.15 



175 Cherokee 

 (?) livers. 



Pounds, 

 1, 878i 

 10.45 



The above were taken indiscriminately, and do not include any of the marked cases 

 that have fallen under our observation. During the past week spleens have been found 

 in Texas and in Cherokee cattle that were as much disorganized as any that were found 

 in the native cattle that died from the disease. The important part that the spleen 

 performs in the economy of cattle will be better appreciated when it is recollected that 

 its enlargement and disorganization are always present in this disease, while the condi- 

 tion of tlu; other organs may be regarded as concomitant. Tin; liver was at one time 

 Kuppost;d to show evidences of enlargement ••ind inciea.se of weiglit in this disease, but 

 this does by no means necessarily follow, as in some of the most marked cases no change 

 whatever in the size of the liver was pcirceptible. In fact, as a gencsral rule, it has heen 

 found that, whenever the animal was in a good condition, the spleen weighed less and 



