DYSKXTEIiV OF YOUXiJ AXIMALS. 73S 



Pathological Anatomy. 



There is nothing very characteristic in the alterations observed after 

 death. The intestinal mucous membrane is covered by amuco-purulent 

 exudate containing; numerous bacteria ; the epithelium is desquamated 

 in dilTerent parts, and the coriuin and Peyer's patches are tumehedand 

 softened ; while in acute cases the contents of the intestine are san- 

 guinolent. Ulceration is not present, probably owing to the very brief 

 duration of the malady. The mucous membrane of the true stomach 

 (fourth compartment) is congested on the summit of its folds, particularly 

 in the pyloric portion ; it is also ecchymosed and infiltrated, frequently 

 looking as if it had been sodden, while there are often traces of hicmor- 

 rhage ; this compartment generally contains clots of casein which have 

 an acid reaction. 



General amemia of the body is most marked, and in some cases there 

 may be evidence of globular broncho-pneumonia, induced by fluids 

 obtaining access to the air passages.^ 



' Franck is, perhaps, the best authority on this malady, and his observations are of 

 great imiwrtance, not only from the care with which ho studied it, but also from the 

 scientiKc manner in which he investigated its pathological anatomy. He examined a 

 number of b*>dies of Calves which had recently died of the disease, and alwayd found the 

 same characteristic alterations, of which the following are given as typical : 



A Bull-calf of the Algiiuer breed, which died on the third day after birth, the second 

 day of the disease. Weight 37 '4 kilogrammes. The remaining portion of the umbilical 

 cord is perfectly dry. The hind parts are somewhat soiled by fieces, the eyes are deep in 

 their sockets ; there is no meteorismus. Eight incisors are cut. There is a remarkable 

 and general bliKkllessness observed, and this is more particularly noted in the digestive 

 organs, which look very white. (This aniemia was present in all the castas to the highest 

 degree : so much so, indeed, that the tanner who bought the skins thought they were 

 from calves which had been slaughtered in the ordinary way, i.e., bled to death — " white 

 Veal.") The umbilical artery is, at the torn extremity, retracted, dark-red in colour, and 

 contracted towards the pelvic opening ; it is distended by a dark-red blood-clot, which 

 extends as fur as the aorta. The umbilical vein is not inflamed, b<it contains a (piantity 

 of dark, small blood-clots (these were not always present) ; it had been torn through 

 towards the outer half of the navel-ring, so that both divisions were visible. The 

 nrachus is ruptured at the inner portion of the umbilical opening. Around the latter are 

 a numV)er of generally small ecchymoses. The abdominal cavity is filled with a dark 

 fluid, which extends through the second and third compartments of the stomach, as far 

 as the fourth compartment. This fluid is also found in the mouth and pharynx, as well 

 as in the trachea ; though none is observed in the lungs. In the tnie stomach is dis- 

 ct)vered a greater ((uantity (about one and a half litre) of curdled milk, in which were 

 dirty-white tuaases of casc^in ; this fluid has an .icid reaction — m:ikiiig litmus paper 

 double-red : its normal condition. The mucous membrane of tlii^ jxirtion of the 

 stomach is o-dematous, of a dirty ytllowishred colour, with traces of pout mortem solu- 

 tion. In the third compartment are a number of isolated ecchymoses al>out the size of 

 a pin's head. The intestines are (|uite empty, and their lining membrane is covered by 

 a thin layer of purulent-looking matter, which has a feeble alkaline reaction. Peyer's 

 glands are slightly swollen, somewhat injected, but otherwise normal. The aecum is 

 remarkably void of solid or fluid contents, and is full of gits. The liver is very small, 

 pale, clay-c<iloured, and bloodless ; the little gall-bladder is completely empty ; the 

 spleen is normal. The lungs are speckled red ; at some jwints the patches are reddish- 

 brown ; the organs are permeable to air. The cavities in lx)th sides of the heart are full 

 of dark, coagtdated blood, and l>eneath the epicardiiim are a number of small ecchy- 

 moses. Otherwise the heart and its %-alves are very he;illhy. The dura mater of the 

 brain is strongly attached to the cranium. The minuses are dark coloured, and fidl of 

 coagulated bloo<l. The brain is remarkablj- aujemic ; its lateral ventricles are di»tended 

 by a clear serous fluid ; the rete mirabile at its baie, and the neighlxiuring membranes, 

 are also distended by coagulated blood. 



Microscopic examination of the blood and the blood-clots in the heart, umbilical vein 

 and artery, proved that these were perfectly normal. The red and white corpuscles in 

 them were unaltered, and there were no special organisms ; the colour of the bl'Hxi was 

 not diminished. All those appearances which are particularly noted in putrid diseases — 

 as in puerperal fever, and particularly in septicaimia, were absent. The liver-cells were 



