156 
CASE OF RUPTURE OF THE SPLEEN. 
throughout, but particularly so at the upper angular end : it weighed 
1\ lbs., and was very lacerable. 
Before the post-mortem examination, my surmise was, that the 
mare had attempted to roll in her box, that she had got cast, and 
in her struggles had kicked out the boards, and ruptured herself; 
but afterwards I felt satisfied, with deference to your better judg- 
ment, that I had confounded cause and effect. A minute scrutiny 
of the boards, and the marks upon them, testified plainly that the 
uppermost was out of the reach of her heels, at their utmost stretch, 
when she was recumbent on her back; and a small fracture in that 
immediately above the highest that was knocked out held ad- 
hering to it a few grizzled hairs, which corresponded precisely 
with the colour of those upon her forehead, where she had been 
partially scalped. I infer, therefore, that her spleen was diseased, 
possibly had been so some time ; that engorgement occasioned rup- 
ture ; and that upon this her throes were consequent, in the agony 
of which she had dashed the uppermost board at least out with her 
head in falling. 
What the function of the spleen or melt* is, I know not; but, 
if it act as a reservoir for blood when the stomach is empty, it 
may be that the mare was suffered to remain out too long eating 
the innutritious fog-grass, and afterwards too suddenly supplied 
with over-great plenty of blood-making food (she was very fat in- 
side) ; but, as 1 am no veterinarian, this is wading beyond my pro- 
vince, and “ ne sutor ” forbids me to say further. 
Believe me, 
Your’s very faithfully. 
Rhesus. 
* In this neighbourhood it is termed lung: in the county of Durham it is 
known by the name of cat's collop. 
