148 CONTAGIOUS DISEASES 



origin to tlie disease ; hence the Germans have called it Loser- 

 diirre — impaction of the third stomach. The late Professor Dick 

 for a long time held out that the disease was neither more nor 

 less than this impaction of the omasum, that it was consequently 

 a non-contagious disease, and that if by the timely administra- 

 tion of purgatives the stomach could be unloaded, the animal 

 would be restored to a healthy condition. And Dr. Bristowe, in 

 his report to the Commissioners, says, " The contents of the 

 omasum are almost invariably preternaturally dry and caked, 

 and as they are at the same time moulded accurately to the 

 highly papillary surface of the folds of this stomach, it is probably 

 due to the concurrence of these two conditions that the epithelial 

 covering of the folds (when, as often occurs, its normal attach- 

 ments are loosened) becomes so frequently in this disease removed 

 with the food." Now, I am of opinion that the majority of 

 observers have fallen into some degree of error as to the abnormal 

 state of the contents of this viscus ; and have concluded that, 

 because the food is found dry and moulded to the leaves, the 

 condition is unnatural, whereas in reality (as may be confirmed 

 any day by calling at a slaughter-house where healthy cattle 

 are slaughtered) the condition of the contents of the omasum 

 is almost invariably firm, the viscus having the appearance of 

 being impacted. 



In some instances the leaves of the omasum are quite healthy; 

 sometimes they are slightly reddened, the vessels which radiate 

 from their attached border being more or less injected, and 

 sloughing may occur in patches. 



The fourth or true digestive stomach — the abomasum. — The 

 contents of this stomach are nearly always fluid, and sometimes 

 mixed with blood, and the specific lesions of the disease are 

 intensely marked in this organ. Its mucous membrane ^ is not 

 only intensely red and covered with adhesive mucus, but is 

 studded with numerous superficial erosions, like those which are 

 so common in the ordinary catarrhal inflammation of the human 

 stomach. — (Murchison.) The mucous membrane is easily re- 

 moved from the submucous tissues, and the gastric glands are 

 filled with granular epithelium and with blood. " In addition 

 to the general redness," says Dr. Murchison, " wlu'cli is most 

 intense in the pyloric region, the mucous membrane at this part 

 often presents circular or irregular patches of a claret colour, 



1 See Plate II. 



