518 
SPLENIC APOPLEXY. 
and, indeed, prevention was the thing with which they 
were most concerned. But the prevention of the disease was 
rather a matter which would come out in the discussion. His 
object was not so much to give a complete lecture on splenic 
apoplexy as to make a few introductory remarks to the 
reading his report of the outbreak of the affection in the 
district in question. Having entered into the pathology of 
the disease, he would now read his 
REPORT. 
To the Veterinary Committee of the Royal Agricultural Society, 
Gentlemen, — I have to report that, in accordance with 
your instructions, I have investigated the circumstances 
connected with a disease which has of late years prevailed 
among the cattle and sheep in the vicinity of llchester, to which 
your attention was recently directed by Sir William Miles, 
Bart. On the day preceding the one—March 19 th— that I 
received your directions to visit the district in question, a 
report reached me from Mr. Blake, veterinary surgeon, of 
Yeovil, describing the somewhat sudden reappearance of the 
malady on one of the farms, after several weeks’ cessation, he 
having been called upon to make a post-mortem, examination 
of three cows which had died after a very short illness. Mr. 
Blake also forwarded the greater part of the viscera of one of 
the animals, thereby affording me an opportunity of studying 
the pathology of the malady prior to my visit. The lesions 
observed essentially consisted of an enormous engorgement 
of the spleen with grumous blood, and effusion of sanguineous 
fluid into the small intestines. The vessels of the mesentery, 
and especially those of the mesenteric glands, were likewise 
filled to repletion with black and partially coagulated blood. 
These appearances agreed with those which had been ob¬ 
served in the other cases by Mr. Blake, and clearly indicated 
that ail the animals had fallen victims to the malady known 
as splenic apoplexy . From causes at present not well under¬ 
stood, attacks of splenic apoplexy have of late years been 
greatly on the increase, and under whatever circumstances 
they may have occurred they almost invariably have had a 
fatal result. The rapidity with which they progress is re¬ 
markable, the affected animals often dying within an hour or 
two of being observed to be unwell. Sometimes the animals w ill 
bear up against the disease for six or eight hours, but very 
rarely for more than twelve. A long duration is favorable 
to recovery, but not a positive proof that such will take place. 
The earliest symptoms are often not of an alarming character. 
The animal is mostly dull, and disinclined to move? stands 
