336 TEXAS FEVER 
sisting of delicate shreds of vascular tissue. This condition, however, 
is not characteristic of Texas fever. 
Usually the most conspicuous changes are in the spleen. This 
organ is much enlarged and its normal weight increased from two to 
four times. The normal markings, Malpighian bodies and trabecule 
are hidden in the dark brownish-red, glistening pulp which distends 
the capsule. The pulp may be firm or it may be in a semi-fluid condi- 
tion so that it oozes out if the surface is cut. The enlargement and 
color of the spleen are due to an engorgement of red blood cells. 
There may also be present a greater or less number of large cells con- 
taining granules, red corpuscles or clumps of yellowish pigment. Free 
pigment is much more abundant than it is in healthy spleens. 
The liver is extensively affected. It is enlarged, congested, edges 
rounded, the bile ducts more or less distended and the parenchyma is 
usually in a state of fatty degeneration. The color is paler than 
normal and usually the surface is somewhat mottled. On section the 
color of the cut surface is brownish-yellow or it may be mottled like 
the surface. The mottling is due to a discoloration owing to degener- 
ation of a zone bordering the intralobular vein. This zone varies in 
width and its peculiar color seems to be due to a tendency to necrosis. 
It is characterized by parenchymatous degeneration and the loss of 
nuclei. It may involve a third or more of the lobule. This portion 
stains very feebly or not at all. The explanation for the necrosis of 
the liver cells is suggested by Smith as being due to the plugging up 
of the ultimate bile canals with solid bile which may interfere in some 
way with the nutrition of the adjacent liver cells. The bile stasis he 
considers as a result of the breaking up in the capillaries of the liver 
of enormous numbers of infected corpuscles. This results in an 
abnormal fluid containing an excess of solids which the bile ducts are 
unable to carry away. When examined in fresh condition or in sec- 
tions of tissue fixed in Miller’s fluid the engorgement of the bile 
canaliculi is seen. The bile stasis may occur over a portion or a whole 
of the lobule. The gall bladder contains usually an abnormal quan- 
tity of changed bile. It is thick and often semi-solid in consistency, 
holding in suspension many flocculi. It imparts a deep yellowish 
tinge to all articles coming in contact with it. Owing to the mucus 
which is present it is quite viscid. 
The changes in the kidneys vary. If death occurs early they are 
usually enlarged and uniformly darker than normal throughout. 
The capillaries are distended with red corpuscles. Parenchymatous 
