98 BOVINE PATHOLOGY. 



the impurities accumulated in the blood as a result of 

 defective excretion in fever are not known to act delete- 

 riously on man when the flesh is injested after cooking, 

 we should when possible prevent such meat from passing 

 into the market. The general custom is to destroy the 

 animal when recovery seems hopeless, and to have it 

 dressed for the public ; any parts which exhibit signs 

 of disease being rejected. 



NECRiEMiA is the term which has been applied to death 

 of the blood en masses such as occurs in black quarter and 

 certain other blood diseases. It may be observed in cases 

 of death resulting from a sudden and powerful alteratioii 

 in vital conditions, as is seen in animals struck by light- 

 ning. Probably the other tissue elements of the body, 

 especially the nervous, are also affected in this case, for 

 they, like the blood, exhibit imperfect tendency to congela- 

 tion, and rapidly commence to putrefy. The non-coagulation 

 of the blood is not present in every case, but this fluid is 

 always dark in colour, and any clot which forms is deficient 

 in firmness and permanence. Such cases never call for 

 treatment, but not unfrequently for determination of the 

 cause of death. Collateral circumstances must be care- 

 fully considered, and the surface of the body examined for 

 local discoloration or singeing ; but it is quite certain 

 that death may occur in this manner without any injury 

 to the surface. A lightning shock may cause injury short 

 of death, as paralysis of a part. After such injuries the 

 principal indication is to avoid collapse by means of 

 stimulant agents. 



D. Variations in Constitution. (a) Increase or de- 

 crease of normal constituents. 



Having already dealt with such diseased conditions as 

 arise from irregularity of distribution of blood in the circu- 

 latory organs constituting the phenomena of hyperaemia 

 and congestion, we may now examine those states which 

 result from variations in the constituents of the blood, 

 whether in quality or in quantity. Increase of water, 

 salines, &c., may occur without any appreciable influence 

 upon the health of the animal, simply causing predis- 



