DISEASE OF THE SPLEEN IN CATTLE. 
463 
Now, it may be, and often is the case, that the interests and 
connexion of the apprentice induce him to commence business in 
the town in which his preceptor lives ; and, why should he not 1 
Yet surely this ought not to lead to any disagreement. But, should 
it unfortunately be the case that opposition arises, I fearlessly as- 
sert, that there is less to be apprehended from it, than from that to 
which I have previously adverted. Education, and a knowledge 
of the relative position in which each has been placed, will prevent 
any other than a gentlemanly deportment. Thus have I ventured 
freely to offer my views on a subject which seems to me to merit 
notice. 
A SINGULAR DISEASE OF THE SPLEEN IN CATTLE. 
By Mr. Jas. Hayes, of Rochdale. 
I SEND you some cases, and remarks thereon, of an affection in 
cattle similar to those related in the May number of The VETERI- 
NARIAN, by Mr. Cartwright. I have, in the course of my practice, 
met with many cases which, from the similarity of their symptoms, 
and their effects being so much alike, I have been induced to be- 
lieve proceeded from the same or from very similar causes. I have 
had the opportunity of making no fewer than six post-mortem ex- 
aminations of these cases within the last year. 
The general history is as follows : — The disease seems to appear 
at very indefinite periods — from one month, to seven months after 
parturition. The first thing observed by the cowherd is a rough and 
unkind appearance of the coat, but with no impairment of the ap- 
petite, and there is a little fulness of the abdomen on the left side. 
In the course of a day or two the secretion of milk lessens very 
much, — there is a painful stiffness in the animal’s gait, with tremb- 
ling and wambling of the hind quarters, and projecting curvature of 
the spine. She is often voiding a black shining mucus from the 
anus, or, as Mr. Cartwright very aptly describes it, a “tarry matter.” 
It seems in appearance to differ from tar only in not being quite 
so tenacious. In a day or two after this discharge has appeared 
the debility has fearfully increased, — she staggers and falls, and 
struggles hard to rise again, — fits now ensue, and in less than an 
hour after she fell she expires in the most violent convulsions. 
Four cows belonged to a very respectable employer of mine, who 
keeps a considerable dairy. I was sent for to examine them after 
death, they having died before the cowherd was aware that any- 
thing of consequence was amiss with them. They stood in sepa- 
rate stalls, and some of them in separate buildings. Two of them 
