766 DISEASE OF THE URINARY ORGANS OF A COW. 
membrane, which had been stripped from off a part it had 
been attached to; while that of the latter was similar to a 
free surface which had been constantly bathed by a fluid con¬ 
taining some colouring matter capable of staining the tissues 
it came in contact with. The whole of the inner surface 
presented a grayish-purple colour, which was not the case 
with the outer surface. 
It required but little reflection to determine the character 
of this pseudo membrane, but the part whence the material out 
of which it was formed came is not so apparent. The first 
impression would be that it came from the surface of the mu¬ 
cous membrane of the organ which it formed a complete cast 
of, namely, the urinary bladder, a part of one of the ureters, 
and the urethral canal; but the investigation we subsequently 
had an opportunity of making of other parts rendered this 
somewhat doubtful. 
But to continue our examination of the specimen under 
consideration. Its structure was identical with those layers 
of lymph we so often find deposited on the pleural coverings 
of the w 7 alls of the thorax or surface of the lungs, which, if 
torn off, show indications of fibrilization, in this respect 
similar to what is observed if a small quantity of blood, minus 
the red cells, is placed on a piece of glass. This, if allowed 
to remain for a time, will, when examined with a moderately 
high magnifying power, be seen to have arranged itself in 
lines mostly parallel with each other. The parts, as seen 
even with the naked eye, had the appearance of being made 
up of bundles of fibres, held together by an intermediate sub¬ 
stance, their course being that of the long axis of the speci¬ 
men ; but what could have determined this direction I am 
not prepared to state. Generally, when fibrine coagulates, 
its apparent fibres are interwoven in all directions, like felt, 
and when hardened in spirit, or in a solution of bichloride of 
mercury, it becomes tough and leathery to the feel; which is 
the precise character of the specimen. There can be no 
doubt of this false membrane being formed by a material the 
product of diseased action, but from what organ it w T as thrown 
out we have yet to determine. 
No further investigation of the case took place until the 
1st of October, when Mr. Rose came to the College, bringing 
with him the vagina, uterus, bladder, and kidneys of the cow 
from which the morbid parts we have hitherto been alluding 
to were taken. Mr. Rose informed us that from the time of 
the cow’s calving to the period of her being slaughtered she 
became so much emaciated that it was deemed advisable to 
have her destroyed; w T hich being done, he availed himself of 
