ON DISEASED OVA11IA. 
107 
high coloured ; the faeces came away in scybalse, in small quan- 
tities at a time, and covered with much mucus and lymph, 
shewing, together with the great pain and difficulty in getting rid 
of them, a serious point of obstruction to their course somewhere. 
Towards the close of the disease, the animal could not raise the 
hinder parts ; the pulse was vibrating at 80 per minute ; tremors 
of the voluntary muscles occurred; and we consequently put an 
end to the poor animal’s further sufferings. 
Morbid Appearances . — On opening the abdomen, there was 
nothing particular in view except the large intestines ; but as 
soon as these were turned to one side, a very considerable tumour 
presented itself, appearing not only to occupy the cavity of the 
pelvis, but likewise the regio pubis, stretching itself along the 
left side of the lumbar region, as far as the left kidney : the 
other portion pointing towards the right lumbar region occupied 
no more than the pubic division of the abdomen. The right kidney 
appeared diminished in size, of a leaden hue, and much firmer 
to the touch than natural ; the left kidney was enlarged, but 
exhibited externally its natural healthy appearance. 
The parts surrounding the whole were now carefully taken out, 
and, on a minute examination, I found that the ovaria had become 
diseased, that on the left being scirrhous, and the other in a state of 
dropsy. As the scirrhous ovarium, from its great size, was com- 
pletely wedged into the pelvic cavity, I was necessitated to divide 
the symphysis pubis before I could get a clear view of its dimen- 
sions, and disengage it from its attachment. Its shape was 
triangular, two angles being directed into the abdominal cavity, 
and the third into the pelvic cavity, occupying the greater portion 
of it. It had completely lost all vestige of its original and 
natural structure, and presented one extended homogeneous 
yellow-coloured scirrhous mass, not weighing less than from 
twenty to twenty-five pounds, and connecting itself by a kind 
of projecting isthmus across to the opposite ovarium and fallopian 
tubes. When cut into, it was made up of a congeries of ab- 
scesses, each having a distinct sac, the walls of which were 
made up of half-organized lymph. The right ovarium retained its 
natural structure, being very vascular, enlarged to the size of 
a large foot-ball, and distended with a serous fluid. How far 
this latter phenomenon depended upon the impregnated state 
of the uterus, as the mare was in foal, the foetus being about 
the size of a cat, I do not know. This circumstance was very 
remarkable, as clearly shewing the capability of one ovarium 
being perfectly competent to the fulfilling the functions of gene- 
ration in the female, as one testicle is in the male ; a wise pro- 
vision of Nature, and shewing how providently her arrangements 
