PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 
315 
on the contrary, it appears to occupy the whole of the abdominal 
cavity. If I press hard it is like pushing my closed hand into very 
thick clay, and once or twice I clearly detected a slight gurgling 
noise, as though fluid was displaced: pressure does not give pain 
unless I push somewhat violently. I was unable to give the owner 
any positive opinion as to the real nature of the disease, but I in¬ 
formed him that it probably proceeded frtnn an enlarged liver, and 
recommended gentle doses of calomel and jalap. I heard nothing 
more of the case for some weeks, when I was informed that the 
animal had lost the use of her hind limbs, and it was deemed best 
to destroy her, which accordingly was done by the administration 
of prussic acid. 
Examination immediately after Death .—On throwing open the 
abdominal cavity a large mass was presented to view, of a circular 
form, which, viewed in reference to the position in which the 
animal is laid, may be said to have its inferior surface resting 
upon the bowels. The thickest part of the mass is through its 
centre, which measures nearly four inches in depth; from this 
centre to its border, all round, it gradually becomes thinner: its 
superior surface is covered by the omentum. The tumour admits 
of being readily broken up, and its solid portion consists entirely 
of firm coagulated fibrin, which is coated with a layer of the red 
portion of the blood. In immediate connexion with this mass is a 
small portion of the spleen, about three inches in length and two in 
breadth, which is the only part of the spleen to be found. The 
weight of the entire mass was eight pounds avoirdupois. Every 
other organ throughout the system was normal. 
Remarks. 
The cases numbered I and II present characteristics worthy 
of remark : in both of them a palsied state of the intestinal 
organs was present. With respect to the first, it is somewhat 
difficult to positively assign a satisfactory cause for such a con¬ 
dition; in the second, it admits of ready explanation. It is, I think, 
somewhat anomalous to observe palsy of the intestines associated 
throughout with an acute or subacute state of inflammation of its 
tissues. The cases submitted to the reader are the only two of the 
kind out of the great numbers which have come under my care. I 
have frequently observed palsy of the intestines supervene in acute 
cases of enteritic disease a short time prior to death ; but I believe 
it is far from common to observe the two associated from the com¬ 
mencement. “ Paralysis of any of the muscles of organic life rarely 
takes place to any extent, and is indeed incompatible with the con¬ 
tinuance of life, unless in those viscera which are particularly in¬ 
fluenced by volition, as the urinary bladder, the sphincters, &c. A 
