525 
SPECIFIC OPHTHALMIA. 
in the parietes of the cavity in which the fluid is found; secondly , 
when the blood has preserved its fluidity in the circulatory system, 
either in consequence of some morbid change or from the com¬ 
mencement of the putrefactive process: i say, some moil)id 
change, because I have learned from repeated observation, that, in 
many disorders which prove fatal, tlie blood undergoes such an al¬ 
teration that infiltrations and imbibitions of every kind may take 
place, and not merely alter death, but even in the last moments 
of life ; thirdly and lastly, whenever there are marks of the com¬ 
mencement ol the putrefactive process, which may have been 
accelerated by the nature of the atmosphere, age, state ol the 
subject, See. As soon as putrefaction has begun, the fluids, and in 
particular the blood, become decomposed; the solids become 
relaxed ; from which double change, in fluids and solids, results 
transudation of the blood through the parietes of the vessels con¬ 
taining it. At the same time it impregnates its colour into every 
part it touches, staining them with livid spots; while in other 
cases it gains admission into the splanchnic cavities or reticular 
tissue, forming the infiltrations and transudations in question. 
From which it results that the causes that hasten fermentation, 
such as the combined action of air, heat, and moisture, must 
necessarily super-induce these post-mortem phenomena: but, I re¬ 
peat, the morbid dissolution of the blood in certain affections 
rapidly fatal is sufficient, putting putrefaction quite out of the 
question, to account for the promptitude of the presence of post¬ 
mortem transudation. 
These succinct observations on some of the phenomena of death, 
and on the conditions which favour their development, ought to 
afford sufficient inducement to veterinarians not to neglect in 
their post-mortem examinations to mark—first, the interval oj 
time between the period of death and that of the inspection : 
secondly, the position in which the animal lay when he died, 
and particularly if he expired in much agony; and also the posi¬ 
tion in which the carcass was subsequently placed for examina¬ 
tion : thirdly, the hi/gornetric and thermometric states of the atmos¬ 
phere: fourthly and lastly, the age and condition of the subject. 
Recueil de Medicine Veterinaire, April 1821k 
Specific Ophthalmia. 
Our readers will agree with us, that every particle of inform¬ 
ation that can be collected on this lamentable disease, likely to 
throw any light on its prevention or cure, is deserving of notice. 
In our Number for September we gave some extracts from a 
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