SCIRRHOUS ENLARGEMENT OF ONE OVARY. 551 
flesh ; and on that account something needs be done to afford her 
relief. 
The enlarged abdomen was the only visible symptom Mr. Field 
had for his guidance ; and, although this was unaccompanied by 
any oedema of the belly, breast, or legs, yet did careful examina- 
tion of it convince Mr. Field that it was neither more nor less than 
ascites ; at the same time that it led to the discovery of a tumour 
in the interval between the ileum, transverse lumbar processes, and 
ribs, which, from its situation, he took it to be an enlarged ovary : 
and such it turned out. Acting on this firm belief, he tapped the 
mare, and drew off four gallons of fluid. This had but little if a,ny 
effect upon her, either for good or ill. She had all along breathed 
tranquilly, and had an undisturbed pulse : still, she continued to 
lose flesh, and was evidently, altogether, in a hopeless condition. 
Mr. Field sent her away to his farm, willing to give her every 
chance, where she remained six weeks. Her belly during this 
time growing large again, she was tapped a second time, and had, 
as before, four gallons of fluid withdrawn. After this she was put 
to death. In addition to what had been drawn off, thirt}^-two gal- 
lons of fluid were found within the peritoneal cavity : there was 
discovered, on the near side, a scirrhous ovary, of the magnitude 
of a man’s head, of a globular form, weighing twenty-two pounds. 
Contrasted with its fellow ovary, which, perhaps, was somewhat 
smaller than usual, it looked in point of size like a pumpkin by the 
side of a walnut. 
The tumour cut in half presented surfaces of a marbled aspect : 
an appearance produced by an ash-coloured substance, of which it 
was almost entirely composed, being crossed and intersected in 
every direction by white fibrous bands, issuing at short intervals 
one from another, from the inner surface of the proper tunic of the 
ovary, by which its component substance was irregularly par- 
titioned into numberless compartments of all shapes and sizes : 
the ash-coloured substance itself exhibiting more toughness than 
firmness, and looking like organized and converted albuminous 
deposit. In the centre the tumour had undergone the ulcerous 
degeneration. There was an irregular cavity, presenting the ap- 
pearance of having had its origin in two or more abscesses ulcer- 
ating into one, which altogether contained about a tea-cup-full of 
purulent matter, looking like good laudable fluid pus, without any 
grumous or caseous admixture. The tunic of the ovary had grown 
with the tumour, and acquired thickness and strength with its 
increased growth, and presented a fibrous character. The blood- 
vessels had likewise undergone proportionate augmentation. Alto- 
gether, the case turned out an exceedingly interesting one. 
