108 BOVINE PATHOLOGY. 



the blood is very high coloured, as are also the contents of 

 the areolar interspaces and serous cavities, and of the lym- 

 phatic vessels. Ecchymoses are perceptible under the 

 endocardium. The first three compartments of the 

 stomach are generally full, and the contents of the omasum 

 especially very dry. The abomasum exhibits congestion 

 of its internal surface. The liver seems to be invariably 

 diseased, being congested both with blood and bile, hence 

 enlarged, dark, and soft. The bile collected in the gall- 

 bladder is generally thick, viscid, and dark. 



Pathology. — Numerous theories on the nature of this 

 disorder have been advanced : 



(1) It has been attributed to the presence of certain 

 ranunculi in pastures, but it arises under circumstances 

 where animals could not obtain such poisons. 



(2) Youatt considers the acute form is inflammation of 

 the kidneys, and '^ probably may be traced to the quality of 

 the general produce of the soil rather than to the presence 

 of certain plants of known acrimonious or poisonous pro- 

 perties.''^ The chronic form he attributes to an acri- 

 monious condition of the bile, which is absorbed into the 

 blood, and irritates the kidneys. 



(3) It was thought that the colour of the urine de- 

 pended upon the presence of blood in it, but the absence 

 of blood as blood is proved by the absence of red 

 corpuscles. Gamgee considers the disease haema- 

 turia, and this opinion is held by many continental 

 authorities. In true ha3maturia, however, blood occurs, 

 in the urine in clots and is expelled in this state. 



(4) Professor Williams says : — ^' I am induced to con- 

 clude that the disease originates in an impoverished con- 

 dition of the blood, arising from want of proper food ; 

 that the albumen of the blood is thus degraded in quality, 

 and as such is unfit to be appropriated for the nourish- 

 ment of the tissues, and is consequently excreted by the 

 kidneys, and expelled from the body ; that the blood- 

 globules are in a broken-down or disintegrated condition 

 arising from solution of their outer layers or cell-walls, 

 when their coloured interior — haematin — escapes, which. 



