MISCELLANEA. 
1003 
Veterinarian , giving an account of a disease amongst cattle de- 
nominated splenic apoplexy, which has been rife during the last few 
weeks in different counties in England most distantly situated and 
under varying conditions. As a disorder which, I think, precisely 
identical has proved fatal to three of my stock, and as you desire 
every information in respect to splenic apoplexy, I shall endeavour 
to describe how my animals were affected as far as I am best able. 
“ The first case which occurred was that of a one-year-old steer as 
early as the last week in June. I had seen him the night before, 
when he looked well and thriving ; but at the time the stock had to 
be taken to water, about eleven o’clock next morning, he was found 
unable to rise. I tried to bleed him in the field, but he died before 
I was able to get blood. The post-mortem examination showed great 
inflammation of the lining of the intestines, extending all along the 
throat. I ascribed it at the time to acute inflammation, but I am 
now of opinion it was the same disease as carried off the other two. 
“ The second, a two-year-old steer, was grazing in the field next to 
where the first was buried, and I am afraid dogs might have carried 
parts of him to devour. 
“This one I first observed stiff and crouching in the hind quarter, 
but as he had been known to jump over a high gate, I attributed 
the defect to a sprain. As he continued to get worse I took him to 
the yard, bled him copiously, and administered a pound of salts, 
followed by linseed, castor and croton oils, giving twenty drops of 
the latter to a pint of the former to no effect. The animal would 
rest his head against the crib, and remain in the same position for 
hours ; there was a difficulty in opening the jaws, and the eyes were 
protruding and staring, but no wildness was manifested as in brain 
fever. At last he was unable to get up, and lived for nine days 
upon drenches. Our untrained eyes could find nothing amiss on 
examination after death, except that the spleen was much dis- 
tended. 
“ The third was a first-calf milch-cow, a cross short-horn and the 
native black breed, a most valuable animal for the dairy, and in ex- 
cellent condition. The first symptoms here were exhibited when 
milking in the morning : the cow would not stand quiet, but turned 
round continually, and always on the same side. I here found the 
eyes protruding more than in either of the two other cases ; the 
bowels at the time were naturally loose, but after administering 
medicine got very costive. I bled, as before, a full gallon from the 
neck, and the same quantity at intervals from the milk vein, 
followed by laxative medicine every six hours, and gave injections 
about every half hour during the daytime. 
“ In three days we got the medicine to operate naturally, and the 
cow amended. She was fed upon mashes and a few early turnips ; 
we were preparing to turn her out to some piece of green clover, when 
she staggered and fell, and was unable to rise. She continued in that 
state for five weeks, would eat anything placed within her reach, but 
had no power whatever to rise, although she could handle her legs 
backwards and forwards when lying down. She had to be killed at 
