DISEASES OF THE SPLEEN. 



315 



which is extravasated in the regular tissue of the spleen. "When 

 the complete ruptures are recent they are found to be covered with a 

 bluod clot and their lips are infiltrated with blood ; later, if death 

 has not followed, these lips form a cicatrix and become hardened. 

 In old horses it is not unusual to find marks of former lacerations 

 which are limited to the spleen. 



The symptoms of rapture of the spleen are those of internal 

 hemorrhage. There are cases which are almost foudroyant; the 

 animals show all the symptoms of extreme anxiety and die within 

 a few minutes. Most frequently death does not take place before a 

 few hours, and a local pain may be detected, also a gradual dis- 

 coloration of the mucous membranes, a chilling of the extremities 

 and all the symptoms of serious hemorrhages. When the accident 

 is consecutive to a traumatism, there are also traces either of a con- 

 tusion or a penetrating wound of the splenic region. 



The patient ought to be placed in absolute immobility and pro- 

 tected from any exciting causes, refrigerant applications are to be 

 made upon the hypochondrium, drinks with an addition of per- 

 chloride of iron are to be given internally, or if the pains are great, 

 hypodermatic injections of morphine should be given : such are the 

 means to apply in order to arrest the splenic hemorrhages. Any 

 traumatic lesions which may exist may be treated by antiseptics. 



Tuberculous alterations of the spleen are quite common in 

 all the species, but especially in birds, where the spleen affected by 

 tubercle may acquire a considerable volume (see Tuberculosis). 



Tumors of the spleen are rarely primitive. We find mainly 

 cancer, lymphadenoma, melanotic sarcoma (in white horses), serous 

 and hydatic cysts in this organ. 



Parasites of the spleen do not, as a rule, produce troubles. 

 The most common are the echinococcus (in cattle), the cysticercus 

 (in the pig), and linguatula in the dog. 



