General Diseases. 367 



of cerebral artery may cause hemiplegia and softening of 

 portion of the brain ; of renal artery albuminuria. Capil- 

 lary embolism plays an important part in pyaemia and- 

 other conditions. Septic particles absorbed from a focus 

 of unhealthy suppuration lodge in the capillaries of distant 

 parts, and there set up secondary inflammation and 

 abscesses." 



On the 6th of June, 1883, a * pointer dog, aged nine 

 years, the property of R. C. Kettle, Esq., barrister, was 

 brought to my infirfhary, presenting the following symp- 

 toms : Deep and laboured breathing, pulse small and 

 wavering, abdomen distended, and prominence over the 

 hepatic region. I diagnosed the case as one of ascites, 

 associated with enlargement of the liver and lung disease 

 of old standing. The pulse indicated some valvular mischief 

 in the heart. The patient was placed under treatment, and 

 it was proposed, when prepared, to tap the abdomen. On 

 the i6th, during my absence, Mr. Kettle took the dog 

 away, wishing me to. treat him at home ; death, however, 

 as I had prognosticated, if moved, took place soon after he 

 reached his kennel, and, by request, I made z. post-mortem 

 examination the following morning. , 



The abdomen contained over a gallon of clear straw- 

 coloured fluid. The liver was enlarged and congested, 

 weighed four pounds and one ounce, and contained large 

 deposits of medullary cancer. The valves of the heart were 

 hypertrophied. The lungs were tuberculosed, and exhibited 

 traces of past inflammation. 



The immediate cause of death was embolism of the pos- 

 terior vena cava. From the right auricle of the heart, and 

 in a considerable portion of its passage through the liver, this 

 vessel had become entirely blocked by a long fibro-cartila- 

 ginous granular chain-like plug, not unlike the hard roe of 

 a fish magnified. Near to the liver this plug was purely 

 calcareous, and could only be chipped out. A portion of 

 the fibro-cartilaginous granular embolus which existed in 



