Splenic Apoj)lexy. 
233 
sTieep in the vicinity of Ilchester, to which your attention was 
recently directed by Sir William Miles, Bart. On the day pre- 
ceding the one — March 19th — that I receiYcd your directions to 
visit the district in question, a report reached me from Mr. Blake, 
veterinant^ surgeon, of Yeovil, describing the somewhat sudden re- 
appearance of the malady on one of the farms, after several weeks' 
cessation, he having been called upon to make a post-mortem examina- 
tion of three cows which had died after a very short illness. Mr. 
Blake also forwarded the greater part of the viscera of one of the 
animals, thereby affording me an opportunity of studying the patho- 
logy of the malady prior to my visit. 
The lesions observed essentially consisted of an enormous en- 
gorgement of the spleen with grumous blood, and effusion of san- 
guineous fluid inta the small intestines. The vessels of the mesen- 
ter}', and especially those of the mesenteric glands, were likewise 
filled to repletion with black and partially coagulated blood. 
These appearances agreed with those which had been observed in 
the other cases by Sir. Blake, and clearly indicated that all tho 
animals had fallen victims to the malady known as splenic apoplexy. 
From causes at present not well understood, attacks of splenic 
apoplexy have of late years been greatly on the increase, and imder 
whatever circumstances they may have occurred they almost in- 
variably have had a fatal result. The rapidity with which they 
progress is remarkable, the affected animals often dying Avithin an 
hour or two of being observed to be unwell. Sometimes the animals 
will bear up against the disease for six or eight hours, but very 
rarely for mc>re than twelve. A long duration is favourable to 
recoveiy, but not a positive proof that such will take place. 
The earliest symptoms are often not of an alarming character. 
The animal is mostly dull, and disinclined to move. It stands with 
its head hanging down, ears lopped, and back arched. In other 
cases twitchings of the voluntary muscles are observed, with loss of 
power of progression, especially with the hinder limbs. The sur- 
face of the body is chilly, the gait staggering, and the mucous mem- 
branes injected. Defluxion of tears, increased mucous discharge 
from the nostrils, laboured and painful breathing, and a quick, 
weak, and wavering pulse, also attend the progress of the malady. 
As the disease advances to a fatal termination, colicky pains come 
on, which are associated with an irritable state of the bowels and 
Wood-coloured evacuations. The cerebral functions become more 
and more impaired. Eigors show themselves, and the animal drops 
and dies, either in a semi-comatose state, or, now and then, in strong 
convulsions. 
From the evidence collected with reference to the cases in ques- 
tion, it appears that the disease was entirely unknown in the district 
Tintil the summer of 1855. The outbreak, which cannot be ac- 
counted for, took place on a farm in the occupation of Mr. Edw 
Look, of Ilchester. The farm consists of 300 acres, the gi-eater 
part of which is pasture-gronad, lying in the valley of the Yeo. I 
