PLEUltO-PNEUMONIA AMONG CATTLE IN AUSTRALIA. 99 
and highly organised, as blood-vessels were seen ramifying 
through two-thirds of’ their structure. The left side was 
more numerously studded with them than the right. Be¬ 
tween that portion of the lungs called the superior medi¬ 
astinum was a tumour about the size of a large soup-basin, 
filled with about a quart of cheesy-like matter, which was 
easily emptied from its sac. The structure of this cyst was 
well organized, and tough as any annular or bursal structure 
in the body. The air passages showed a uniform blush of 
brown colouring matter. The heart was small, flabby, and 
pale, as in all the other cases. The serous membrane of the 
whole of the thoracic viscera showed previous disease, from 
its thick and white glistening appearance. The abdominal 
viscera were much the same as the last case. 
To the Editor of the Argus. 
“ Sir, — I observe in your issue of yesterday an account 
of a meeting held in Melbourne, at which a Committee was 
appointed to inquire whether it is true that the cattle of this 
colony have shown symptoms of pleuro-pneumonia. 1 sin¬ 
cerely hope that the minutest inquiry may fail to prove that 
it exists here in an epidemic form, though, perhaps, isolated 
cases may be found. Having had a large number of cases 
under my care and treatment, I beg, with your permission, 
to offer a few remarks upon the leading characteristics of this 
disease, and the means of ascertaining whether it is really 
amongst our cattle or not. 
“ First, then, I beg to observe, the signs of this complaint 
after death are so plain and unmistakable, that the public 
mind may soon be satisfied whether or not it prevails to any 
serious extent. When death has resulted from pleuro¬ 
pneumonia, the pathological signs are, as I said, plain and 
unmistakable, and may be familiarly stated in a few words— 
rotten lungs, and the chest full of stinking fluid. Death 
arises from effusion in the cavity in the chest; and the 
lungs are more or less destroyed. This is in those virulent 
and speedily fatal cases, which seem to resist all kinds of 
treatment. But the same disease has prevailed at home in a 
milder form to a very great extent. It is no uncommon 
thing when a beast is slaughtered by the butcher to find the 
lungs adhering firmly to the walls of the chest. And this 
proves both that the disease has dxisted (most likely quite 
unperceived) and undergone a natural cure, of which this 
adhesion if the result. This occurs in the finest oxen ever 
