312 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



localized, aod when the obstacle to the blood current is situated 

 nearer to the spleen. 



The clinical symptoms of these congestions are always very 

 vague. Generally we find more or less intense colics. In some 

 instances, however, the tumefaction of the spleen may be recognized 

 by palpation and percussion of the left hypochondrium ; there is 

 even sometimes a certain swelling of this region and of the flank, 

 without any apparent meteorism (Gellé). 



At the autopsy we find an increase in the size of the spleen; its 

 weight and dimensions are, as a rule, doubled or trebled ; in a case 

 observed by Gurlt upon an animal of the bovine race, it weighed 

 seventeen kilogrammes. The splenic tissue is dark red or marble 

 colored ; some apoplectic centres may be found in it ; its consist- 

 ence is much weakened according to the more or less intense con- 

 gestion. 



The ordinary duration of the disease is from six to twelve hours. 

 It ends in resolution or laceration of the organ. This latter, which 

 is exceptional, is indicated by the violence of the abdominal pains, 

 the obliteration of the pulse, the discoloration of the mucous mem- 

 branes, and by cold sweats and tremblings ; death occurs rapidly. 



We must be careful not to mistake for a true disease of the 

 spleen the splenic congestion occurring in some infectious diseases^ 

 notably in anthrax and in septic and typhoid affections. 



Bleeding, refrigerant applications upon the hypochondrium, and 

 revulsive frictions upon the extremities, are the principal means to 

 which we should resort. 



II. SPLENITIS. 



The phlegmasias of the spleen are located in the perisplenic 

 tissues or in the splenic parenchyma itself. 



Perisplenitis is altogether assimilable to perihepatitis. Some- 

 times it is limited to the peritoneal serous membrane, at other 

 times it concerns this and the capsular membrane at the same time. 

 Any pathological process located in the neighborhood of the spleen 

 will reach these membranes in the end. It is either the consequence 

 of a splenic affection, or of phlegmasia of the neighboring organ, 

 or, again, of a simple prolonged abnormal compression exerted 

 upon the spleen. At all events, it causes thickening of the peri- 

 toneal fold and of the subjacent capsule; often also it results in the 



