516 
SPLENIC APOPLEXY. 
organs of the chylopoietic viscera. He thought that if the 
splenic vein were carrying blood that was newly manufac¬ 
tured, and fitted for general circulation, it would not join the 
vena portae, but be conveyed directly to the heart. 
It was easy to understand that the spleen, if it became sud¬ 
denly engorged, would have its function as a disintegrator of 
the blood-cell suspended, just as the function of any other 
Morgan was suspended when the blood within it was brought 
to a stand-still. As was well known, all the functions of life 
were suddenly cut short by a large quantity of blood being 
determined to the brain, constituting what was ordinard}' 
known as apoplexy. So likewise if the spleen or any other 
organ received an undue quantity of blood, and this blood 
was suddenly brought to a stand-still, its function would 
become suspended. Therefore, although the engorgementof 
the spleen might be only an effect of the changed condition 
of the blood originally, yet when that engorgement took place, 
and the functions of the spleen were suspended* the blood 
was further deteriorated, and the death of the animal thereby 
facilitated. The capability of the spleen to receive a large 
amount of blood was, however, provided for naturally. Hence 
one other function of the organ was that of acting as a dila¬ 
table diverticulum for the blood, especially when obstruc¬ 
tions existed in the vena portae of the liver. If, therefore, 
the vena portae was congested, the spleen would be suddenly 
increased in size; but when the congestion was removed, 
the blood would again flow from the spleen, and go rapidly 
through the liver. 
It was, therefore, no positive proof of disease of the spleen 
that the organ was larger than commonly observed. If 
in this disease the spleen was simply enlarged, and no change 
wrought in the blood, we might then infer that this organ 
was chiefly at fault ; but when we make a post-mortem ex¬ 
amination, and find other parts, distinct from the spleen 
affected, we might fairly conclude that the term “ splenic 
apoplexy 93 was simply a misnomer, and that the enlarge¬ 
ment was only a symptom of some other affection. In a 
/ post-mortem examination it would be observed that the small 
' intestines, apart from the spleen altogether, were almost 
filled to repletion with blood, which had no power of coagu¬ 
lating, thus showing that it w r as changed in its vital proper¬ 
ties. The intestines also had a blackened appearance, owing 
to an effusion of spoilt blood which had taken place within 
them. 
On looking at the flesh of animals dying with the malady, 
extravasations of blood would likewise be frequently met 
