THE DISEASES OF PIGS. 
399 
it hung its head more heavily than usual, and was not well. She 
ascertained that it was brought by a person into the market and 
sold to a pig-jobber, who sold it again to her, knowing it was not 
well. It was in good condition. 
Examination . — All the disease I could find was in the heart. 
The pericardium did not shew any disease, nor did the external 
parts of the heart ; but, on cutting open the left ventricle, the 
valves were found to be severely diseased. They were from a 
quarter to half an inch thick, but, of course, varied in different 
parts, and were in a very ragged uneven state, not, properly 
speaking, scirrhous, but more of a fibrous nature, yet presenting 
a state of disorganization not unlike the surface of cancer. 
This strange substance must have nearly filled the orifice of the 
ventricle, and one portion was forced a little way up the aorta. It 
was curious to observe that the disease did not extend any farther 
than to the extent of the valves, and which would almost lead 
us to the belief that the valves were not solely a reflection of the 
lining membrane of the heart. The edges towards the auricle 
were beautifully defined. 
ONE KIDNEY. 
Mr. Hesketh killed a small fat pig that had only one kidney. 
SMALL SPLEEN. 
Jan. I, 1841. — Mr.Hurleston killed a fine fat pig that weighed 
about fifteen score, and, on cutting it up, the spleen was found to 
be a very small one, and nearly absorbed. It was about the 
usual length, but its width was not above half an inch at any 
part, and little more than an eighth of an inch thick, and weighed 
only seven drachms ; however, as it was, it was apparently sound. 
The spleen was brought to me by the butcher, and it was sur- 
rounded by a good deal of adeps. 
A REMARKABLE FACT FOR NATURALISTS. 
A sow, belonging to a person at Mitford, recently farrowed 
four pigs, and in three weeks afterwards seven more. She had 
evidently gone the usual period of gestation with both lots, as 
she was sent to two males at an interval of three weeks, and the 
litters are of distinct breeds, corresponding with the respective 
sires . — Shrewsbury Chronicle , April 9, 1841. 
MAN AND SWINE. 
“ 1 may here take occasion to observe, that there is a remark- 
able similarity of constitution between man and the swine. Scro- 
