THE OX AND THE DAIKY. 



membrane is thickened, and has its texture changed. In 

 these cases there is no hope of cure. An animal, indeed, may 

 live and enjoy life, when, after acute pleuritis, adhesions exist 

 between the lungs and chest ; but then all inflammatory 

 action is subdued. On the contrary, in these cases it goes 

 on like a smouldering fire, sometimes apparently extin- 

 guished, but again returning ; new adhesions succeeding to 

 those previously formed, till the lungs can no longer perform 

 their functions. 



In animals which have died from pleuritis, we have often 

 observed the pleura of the chest appear as if very minutely 

 granulated. We remember once, in the human subject, see- 

 ing the pleura stud&ed with calcareous patches of some thick 

 ness ; and a similar deposit sometimes occurs in cattle. 



CONSUMPTION, OR PHTHISIS. 



Neglected catarrh, or inflammation of the lungs, often pro- 

 duces tubercles in the lungs, which, increasing in size and 

 running together, at length suppurate, forming abscesses in 

 the substance of those organs. The progress of consumption 

 is insidious : in the human being life continues even when a 

 great portion of some of the lobes of the lungs is wasted away 

 by ulceration. The hollow, distressing cough, the hectic 

 flush, the overbright eye, the expectoration of purulent mat 

 ter, often mixed with blood, foretel the result ; but if a suffi- 

 cient quantity of the lungs is left for respiration, unless some 

 larger blood-vessel or tubercle burst and produce sudden 

 suffocation, the patient lingers on. 



In the ox the same thing occurs. We have seen extensive 

 tubercles in the lungs of oxen killed in good condition for 

 the market ; and the fact has often surprised us : but on con- 

 sidering that the progress of the tubercles is at first slow, 

 that they do not for a long time interfere with the functional 

 duties of the lungs, that the animal reposes at ease in a stall 

 or yard, fattening, notwithstanding the tuberculous affection 

 of the lungs ; so that, most probably, the rapid increase of 

 the disease resulted from the long journey to London, during 

 which respiration was necessarily hurried, and a larger quan- 

 tity of blood sent through the lungs, while time was not 

 allowed before the butcher's stroke for the wasting of the 

 body; on considering these points our surprise diminished. 



We have said that neglected catarrh, or inflammation of 

 the lungs, often produces phthisis ; and such is the fa,ct : but 



