188 
TUBERCULAR ABSCESS IN A STIRK. 
which layers, at various parts, isolated from each other, were 
ecchymosed patches, like depositions of the red corpuscles of 
the blood, within the meshes of the tissue. The fibrinous 
case of this tumour had made no fibrinous connection with 
either the oesophagus or the posterior aorta, or indeed with 
any other part, as might have been expected from its pre- 
sence and pressure. The parenchyma of both lungs was 
healthy, nor could I detect the presence of any tubercular 
matter therein. The heart’s walls were flaccid in texture, and 
might be considered slightly hypertrophied. Further exami- 
nation failed to unfold any pathological condition of other 
parts. 
Rationale. — From the symptoms, treatment, and patho- 
logical condition of the parts in this case, as recorded, it 
would be well now, perhaps, to endeavour to draw some 
practical inferences ; or, indeed, seek to know what principles 
in the practice of veterinary medicine it confirms. 
The majority of the symptoms shown by the animal are 
easily traceable to the appearances its autopsia disclosed. The 
ill-doing of the creature observed for some time previous to 
our attention being directed to her, and revealed as a part of 
her history, was a proof that the formation of the tumour was 
not the work of a week, or even of a month : by its gradual 
and stealthy progress it became so large as to interfere with 
the function of digestion ; by its pressure or presence inter- 
rupting the passage of nervous influence along (through alter- 
ing the vital integrity of) the pneumo-gastric nerves ; which 
are known to proceed, in company with the oesophagus, to the 
stomachs, and to be the presiding power over two important 
processes in the animal economy, as implied by their name, 
pneumo-gastric , viz. respiration and digestion. But, as the 
morbid impression of the tumour upon the nerves was centri- 
fugally made (with their admitted origin) to the pulmonic 
plexuses, formed for the respiratory function, hence it was that 
we had only the digestive, and, probably to a slight extent, 
the assimilative processes, interfered with. To the above 
explanation, as a cause of the frequent tympanitis, we would 
look, rather than to the mechanical obstruction of the tube by 
the tumour ; for if the latter had been the cause, as might be 
supposed by some, of the tympany, by preventing the eruc- 
tation of the gases generated in the rumen, should we not 
have had choking frequently present ? — which never happened 
throughout the case, since the animal ruminated freely at 
various times during her illness. From this and the freedom 
with which she deglutited, we presume that the oesophagus 
w T as not materially affected, as regards its office, by the pre- 
