THE 
V E T E R I N ARIA N. 
VOL. XXVIII, 
No. 330. 
JUNE, 1855. 
Fourth Series, 
No. 6. 
Communications and Cases. 
THE VACUITY OF ARTERIES AFTER DEATH. 
By H. D. Chowne, M.D. 
To the Editors of c The Veterinarian / 
Sirs* — Some remarks made by me on the occasion when 
Dr. Thudicum read his paper at the Medical Society of 
London, “ on the Vacuity of the Arteries after Death,” 
having-,' through a misapprehension, been inaccurately re- 
ported (‘Lancet/ Jan. 27, 1855), the editor introduced a 
proof correction in the succeeding number.* 
As your quotation in the Veterinarian for April, 1855, 
(being a true copy), necessarily repeats the inaccuracy, I 
shall be much obliged to you if you w T ill insert the same form 
of correction, a copy of which I annex, substituting, however, 
the word “ cavities” for “ ventricles.” 
“ Vacuity of the Arteries. — The remarks made by 
Dr. Chowne on this subject, and reported in our last num- 
ber (p. 92), should have stood thus : ‘ Dr. Chowne stated 
that he had not any explanation of his own to offer as to the 
emptiness of the arteries, but considered that w r hen the left 
side of the heart had emptied itself of blood, it did not re- 
main empty, but was immediately filled w r ith vapour, evapo- 
rated from the warm moisture on the inner surface of the 
cavities, and that this vapour, under any repeated contrac- 
tions of the heart, would help to propel the blood towards 
the capillaries.” 
I may add that, whatever expansion takes place, it occurs 
at the moment when the moisture on the lining surfaces of 
the cavities passes into the form of vapour. 
* Notice to Correspondents, April 3, 1855. 
XXVIII. 
40 
