SPLENIC DISEASE. 
329 
becomes diseased, an attempt is made to eliminate it by the 
bowels and kidneys, their secretions are interfered with, and 
by the excitement and overwork a diseased condition of the 
intestinal surface is established ; a reflex action through the 
sympathetic takes place on the brain and spinal cord, cere- 
bral excitement is at first manifest, hurried breathing, twitch- 
ing of the muscles, and involuntary passage of faeces and 
urine tinged with blood, nervous prostration succeeds, and 
the animal falls to the ground a lifeless trunk, or if down 
expires without a struggle. 
This condition of liver, which I believe to be the primary 
cause of the disease, cannot be regarded as new, as almost all 
animals put up to feed, that do not labour, and are largely 
supplied with a nitrogenous diet, possess a large amount of 
fat in their hepatic cells ; it is only when the organ becomes 
enlarged, the cells invaded by fat so as to unfit them to per- 
form the extra labour required of them from the nature of 
the food supplied, that it may be said to interfere with the 
vital processes. The organ, although it may appear healthy 
enough to the naked eye, may still be demonstrated under the 
microscope to contain an unusual number of fat-granules, and 
even considerable variations may exist, in this respect, quite 
compatible with a state of health. 
It is only when taken in connection with all the circum- 
stances here detailed, and facts furnished by previous writers, 
that it can be regarded as a cause of the disease, but looked 
at in these circumstances it will account for its nature as 
here set forth. One universally admitted and very impor- 
tant fact, favours, indeed corroborates, my conclusions. I 
allude to the action of active muscular movement in retarding 
or even preventing a fatal termination in this disease. This 
seems to act by determining the blood to the superficial veins, 
favouring the excretion of effete matter by the skin, and re- 
lieving the internal congestions. 
I shall briefly relate a case which occurred a few days ago, 
which seems to substantiate my theory. A three-year-old ox, 
belonging to George Vergette, Esq., of this place, on his fen- 
farm adjoining those formerly referred to, was observed one 
morning very much excited, rushing about through the yard, 
burrowing his head among the litter, looked swollen about the 
mouth and eyes, with water trickling down from them, there 
was also a peculiar twitching of the muscles all over the body. 
He had lain down when I saw him, was seemingly suffering 
no pain, looked wild when put up, with bloodshot eyes, and 
trembled violently; passed small quantities of high-coloured 
urine frequently,’ and exhibited all the symptoms of the dis- 
