VARIX. 437 



" 7 P.M. Death. 



" Post-mortem examination. May 31st, 9 AM. The whole of the 

 affected limb greatly swollen. On making an incision through the 

 integument and subcutaneous tissue on the inner side, from the 

 sheath down to the hoof, and reflecting the skin, exit given to a quan- 

 tity of sero-purulent liquid in fact the areolar tissue of the entire 

 extremity was infiltrated with the products of a diffuse inflammation 

 of low type. Notwithstanding the greatest care in dissection, it was 

 found impossible to trace a vein ascending to the lower part of the 

 tumour; not so above. The saphena-vein in the thigh was exposed 

 with facility, and traced down to the tumour. The outer coat of the 

 crural portion of the vein was preternaturally red and thick, but on 

 opening the vessel it was found pervious as far down as the tumour, 

 and its lining membrane throughout the same extent was flaccid and 

 glistening. Neither of the pins had perforated the venous coats, nor 

 was the vessel in any way different at the points where they were passed 

 under it. As the external dissection left no doubt that the outer coats 

 of the tumour were inseparably connected with, seemingly a direct ex- 

 tension and expansion of, the venous walls themselves, a careful endea- 

 vour was made to pass an elastic tube down the vessel into the cavity 

 of the enormous growth. This was found impracticable, owing, as 

 further dissection proved, to closure of the venous canal by adhesive 

 inflammation at the point of junction with what had been diagnosed, 

 and with what proved anatomically to be, a varix. That the vein was 

 patent, and functionally quite healthy above this point, was evident 

 from a soft non-adherent filiform clot within it, extending into nume- 

 rous collateral branches. 



" At this stage of the examination the tumour was divided longitu- 

 dinally through its middle from the point of departure from the vein. 

 The section showed several membranous septa dividing the entire cavity 

 into various chambers, each filled with fibrin, the product of coagula- 

 tion of blood at different epochs, as proved by the different colour and 

 consistence of the material filling the various cavities." 



PHLEBOLITES. 



B^clard, Jules Cloquet, Dr John Keid, and many other 

 observers, have indicated the occurrence of concretions in 

 the veins of the human subject, and usually in hsemorrhoidal, 



