THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS 213 



times, in the horse, it reaches an enormous size, without, however, 

 showing any appreciable symptoms during life. Fig. 6, page 158, 

 is from the photo of the spleen of a horse that was slaughtered after a 

 long and wearisome illness. The animal had been ailing for months, 

 and unable to work, and although feeding fairly well, it gradually lost 

 flesh. Spleen disease was suspected, and, after slaughtering, the 

 organ was found of an enormous size and studded all through with 

 tubercular nodules of various sizes. 



323. Lymphadenoma. — This is a peculiar disease of the spleen 

 in the horse. The symptoms are very remarkable : the animal feeds 

 well, but gradually loses flesh ; has a dingy, staring coat and a 

 staggering, swinging gait. The visible mucous membranes, such as 

 eyelids, etc., are as pale as white paper ; the pulse is soft and quick, 

 varying from 80 to 90 per minute ; the bowels, as a rule, are quite 

 normal. The animal lingers on for some considerable time, having to be 

 supported on slings to keep it on its feet. These cases are invariably 

 fatal, the post-mortem showing the presence of pearly-white tumours 

 of lymphoid tissue, and varying in size from that of a marble to that 

 of an orange, made up in concentric layers which are studded through 

 the spleen, while at times the lymphatic glands are also implicated. 

 Treatment is of little avail, but 1 drachm each of iodine and sulphate 

 of iron made into a ball and given once a day till eight doses are given 

 can be tried, and repeated if necessary. 



324. Anthrax is a specific disease of a very inoculative and 

 contagious character, caused by the presence in the blood of a spore- 

 bearing organism, the Bacillus anthracis. From time immemorial 

 outbreaks of anthrax have been recorded by celebrated men in 

 various parts of the world at different periods. Anthrax or splenic 

 apoplexy as it affects cattle is known by the name of malignant pustule, 

 or woolsorters disease, in the human subject. Other terms are also 

 applied to the disease, such as ckavbon, carbuncular fever, gloss 

 anthrax, malignant sore throat, etc. In South Africa it is called 

 horse sickness, in America Texan fever and splenic fever, and in India 

 Loodiana disease. It is very remarkable to observe how solitary cases 

 of anthrax break out in this country, arising, as they do, under such 



