DISEASE OF THE MESENTERIC GLANDS. 
619 
daily, with liberal diet, and a loose airy box, with a good bed, and 
particular attention to his comforts. I then added ferri or cupri 
sulph. 3 j to each ball, and under this treatment he seemed to 
slightly improve ; the wounds on his body healed, and the opaque 
appearance of the eye produced by the injuries to the cornea 
becamed absorbed ; his conjunctival and Schneiderian membranes 
improved in colour, and his coat bore a more glossy aspect. His 
appetite being somewhat impaired, on August 28th I discontinued 
the tonics, and gave a laxative and diuretic composed of aloes 
Barb.,tereb. vulg. aa 3 j, hyd. chlor. 3j, which produced a most active 
purging effect. The tonic system was again had recourse to, 
varying the agents, as circumstances dictated, with occasional 
laxatives and calomel. In lieu of improving, the colt gradually 
became worse; and by this time was so emaciated, notwithstanding 
his voracious appetite (eating four feeds of oats and beans daily), 
that it was with difficulty he could raise himself when once down. 
The membranes had again assumed their congested appearance ; 
the pulse 60, and irritable ; his urine scanty and thick ; but his 
bowels still acting regularly, and quite normal in appearance. The 
hocks and hind legs becoming oedematous, and the joints of his 
fore legs also much enlarged, at the latter end of September I 
addressed the proprietor, stating that my opinion was that the case 
was one of either diseased mesenteric glands or chronic disease of 
the liver, and I thought further treatment useless. 
On October 4, at my suggestion, he was destroyed by bleeding, 
and at the post-mortem examination the following appearances 
presented themselves : — On removing the skin from the lower part 
of the abdomen and extremities, a small deposition of serum had 
taken place, the cellular membrane having assumed a dirty brown 
colour, mingled with patches of dark-coloured blood. On opening 
the abdomen, the peritoneum exhibited symptoms of previous 
inflammation. About three pints of serum escaped from the cavity, 
and the membrane was in some places covered with flocculi, and 
in one place adhesion of the omentum had taken place. In that 
membrane (the omentum) several glandular- shaped substances 
existed, varying from the size of a pea to a small walnut ; and on 
being cut open, some contained white earthy matters, and others a 
firm yellow or orange-coloured substance similar to inspissated pus. 
The whole of the mesenteric glands exhibited extensive disease, 
being much enlarged, and in some instances lying embedded in 
serum of a bright straw colour and of a tenacious or jelly-like con- 
sistency, which was extravasated between the peritoneal and mus- 
cular coat of the intestines. The glands, when cut into, were the 
colour of clay, and one or two drops of serum escaped. The 
mesenteric veins presented a singular and pleasing appearance. 
