448 DISEASES OF THE LIVER AND SPLEEN. 



disease^ it is still very likely to become congested — filled to 

 bursting with blood, from general plethora, and consequent 

 oppressed and languid circulation ; and in this condition does 

 the gland become liable, from the same causes, to burst or 

 become ruptured. D'Arboval mentions the case of a horse who 

 was attacked with symptoms of founder, and was treated for 

 them ; but who, on his being admitted into the College at Al- 

 fort, shewed quick pulse, and hurried and irregular breathing, 

 without manifesting any pain, and four hours after fell 

 suddenly down, and died without a struggle. The liver had 

 acquired the enormous volume of sixty-two pounds, was 

 intensely black, as if it had been steeped in blood, and pre- 

 sented along the inferior border a considerable rent, from 

 which had escaped about three gallons of blood. 



The Rupture in most cases, I should say, happens all at 

 once ; but the haemorrhage from it would appear as if it 

 became partly — nay, in some cases, perhaps completely — 

 stanched, and this is followed by one or more relapses. To 

 these deductions we are led from a consideration of the symp- 

 toms in the various cases we have witnessed and from reported 

 accounts. In a case that occurred to Mr. Siddall_, the horse 

 had been ill, and subject to frequent faintings for upwards of 

 three weeks before he died ; which appeared afterwards to 

 have been caused by partial ruptures of the peritoneal cover- 

 ing of the liver in difiPerent places, from all which he rallied, 

 not sinking until the grand rupture itself had happened. 



A grey coach-horse, belonging to his Koyal Highness 

 Prince Albert, had been unwell the day before — heaving at 

 the flanks, and off his feed — when Mr. Siddall was sent for 

 to attend. His respiration was now short, accompanied with 

 sobbings, particularly when moved ; though comparatively 

 tranquil while standing alone undisturbed, except now and 

 then, when a sort of paroxysm came on. Extremities cold ; 

 pulse frequent and small, and easily compressed. Sclerotic 

 coat and buccal membrane blanched j tongue covered with 

 frothy saliva ; breath stercoracious ; fseces scanty and dry. 

 Medicine and gruel wore prescribed. The next morning the 

 groom found he had eaten his mash, and thought he appeared 



