EXCISION OF THE RIBS. 
599 
mity, there was no lung, or, at least, the change of structure 
which had taken place rendered it no longer recognizable. It 
consisted of nothing more than a fibrous leaf, adhering strongly 
to the mediastinum and the trachea, and the thickness of which 
did not exceed more than six lines. It was black exteriorly, and 
its substance, excessively condensed, was homogeneous, white, 
and elastic. 
‘^Between the mediastinum and the pericardium there was an 
albuQiinous infiltration, having the consistence of tremulous ge¬ 
latine of a citrine colour, and an inch and a half in thickness. 
In the middle of this infiltration a great number of capillary 
bloodvessels could be traced. We noticed the same thing in the 
infiltration of the cellular interlobulary tissue at the base of the 
lung. 
‘‘The right lung offered no other lesion than a serous interlo- 
bulary infiltration, without any development of bloodvessels. 
This was small in quantity, and did not exceed half a line in 
thickness. There was also, between the serous membrane of the 
right mediastinum and the pericardium, a gelatiniform collection 
more than an inch in thickness, and with the development of 
capillary bloodvessels. The sac of the pericardium contained 
about four ounces of a yellow serous fluid. The heart retained 
its natural consistence and colour, but the thickness of its walls 
had diminished. The sub-costal branch of the left sympathetic 
nerve was red, occasioned by the injection of the vessels sur¬ 
rounding the nerve and its filaments. The intestinal tube pre¬ 
sented nothing more than a small number of slight red spots, 
scattered over the small intestines, and occupying the thickness 
of the mucous membrane and the subj icent cellular tissue. 
“These facts confirm the opinion which we have already stated 
of the nature and the causes of this tnorbid change in the struc- 
ture of the lungs. The cow was sound ; at least, she presented 
all the signs of health. We injected vinegar into the jdeural 
cavity. Pleurisy was produced, as was evident from the cha¬ 
racter of the liquid which escaped when we extracted a portion 
of the rib. After this operation the animal seemed to recover 
every appearance of healtii, a circumstance which we probably 
could not have foreseen ; and she lived twenty days after this, 
having the whole of one lung in contact with the atmosj)hcric 
air by means of an opening nearly six inches wide, which per¬ 
mitted the entrance of insects, and of every light body floating 
in the air. 
“At length she died, and, on examination, we found all the le¬ 
sions of chronic j)ieurisy, together with those of infiltration and 
