128 
ACORN-POISONING. 
low specific gravity, led to the conviction that non-elimina- 
tion of effete matters from the blood by the kidneys was one 
element, and possibly a very important one, in the disease. 
No opportunity, however, occurred of verify ingthe impres- 
sion by chemical analysis. 
Post-mortem appearances . — Several of the animals which 
had died just before the commencement of the investigation 
in Kent were examined, and the following morbid appear- 
ances were observed : 
Abrasions more or less extensive of the buccal membrane at 
the angles of the mouth and on the palate were detected in 
most instances. Some of the abraded portions had the ap- 
pearance of incipient ulcers. The fauces, velum palati, and 
larynx were generally congested, and the mucous membrane 
was covered with a large quantity of white exudation-matter. 
Congestion was also apparent in the mucous lining of the 
trachea. 
The lungs and heart were healthy. 
In the digestive organs the evidences of the effects of the 
disease were very marked, and in some instances there was so 
much destruction of tissue that it was difficult to avoid the 
conclusion that some powerful irritant poison had been ad- 
ministered. Usually the rumen was healthy, but in a few 
instances there were spots of submucous haemorrhage on the 
muscular bands, and occasionally spots of congestion were 
seen on the lining of the viscus. The reticulum was gene- 
rally healthy. 
At the entrance of the omasum, in several cases, the tissues 
were broken up, and presented a torn and ragged appear- 
ance, and many of the edges of the leaves of this stomach 
were in a similar condition. 
Sometimes there were hard masses of masticated acorns 
impacted between the leaves, but very commonly no trace of 
them existed in any part of the alimentary canal ; indeed, 
some of the animals were not attacked with serious illness 
until several days after they had been removed from the acorn 
pastures. 
The abomasum was in many cases congested in patches, 
and the edges of the folds of the mucous membrane were often 
cedematous. 
No structural changes were detected in the intestines ; the 
contents of the tube were generally fluid, and in the large 
intestine the dark lines due to venous congestion, and distin- 
guished as a lesion of cattle plague, under the name of 
“ zebra-marking,” were present. 
Both kidneys and bladder were generally healthy, but in 
