330 
SPLENIC DISEASE. 
ease. The owner had previously lost some out of the same 
yard in similar circumstances, and the attendant thought “he 
had better he killed than doctored.” As there were no symp- 
toms of immediate dissolution, I had him secured, and took 
away about three quarts of blood from the neck, gave a saline 
purge combined with a stimulant. A good deal of effusion 
had taken place below the skin, about the neck and dewlap 
and down the forelegs, which I rubbed with a stimulating 
liniment. He continued to shake even worse than before ; 
I ordered him to be driven about the yard for three hours 
until a waggon could be procured for his removal to the home 
farm, where the services of a butcher would be more acces- 
sible should they he required. Six hours after my leaving 
him he arrived all safe, and hardly a trace of the disease 
remained. He still looked wild, and did not eat ; he was 
watched through the night, and in the morning seemed to 
have nothing amiss. 
Here was a case which, to all external appearances, exhi- 
bited all the symptoms usually observed during life in well- 
marked cases, and, taken in connection with the previous 
outbreaks in the same yard, leaves no doubt on my mind as 
to its nature. The sudden depletion of the system, together 
with the active exercise enjoined, seemed to act beneficially 
by unloading the vascular system, favouring the absorption 
of effused products, and allowing the nervous system to 
rally ; thus proving that the disease is more of the nature of 
vascular engorgement of the blood glands, associated with 
functionary derangement of the liver, producing necrcemia , 
or death of blood, than any specific blood-poison introduced 
from without, either in the shape of malaria, protozoa, fungus, 
food, or water, although all these may modify (within certain 
limits) particular cases ; certainly they never of themselves 
produce it. 
In conclusion, while believing that I have shown the true 
nature of splenic disease, there are many points, I am aware, 
which require further elucidation and verification from the 
chemist and microscopist before they can be accepted by all ; 
but the statements herein set forth will I think stand their test 
and scrutiny. They are the result of practical observation of 
the disease under varying circumstances, and are offered, as an 
humble contribution to veterinary pathology, for your consi- 
deration, and (if worthy) the candid criticism of your readers. 
[We altogether object to the conclusion, that, because cer- 
tain persons in a village ate with impunity the flesh of animals 
which were affected with splenic apoplexy, the flesh is fit for 
human consumption. — Eds.] 
