98 
REPORT ON THE CATTLE PLAGUE. 
ing; the pulse is quicker and weaker, and only to be felt at the heart. 
The breathing has now become somewhat increased, but is neither 
laboured nor difficult. The body is cold, and the animal lies with a 
drooping head and closed eyes, as in a state of drowsiness, refusing all 
food, but showing the same disposition to take water. 
The Commissioners explained that they considered there was no 
chance of the animal’s ultimate recovery, although the case would 
doubtless be a very protracted one. They also said that they had 
decided to have her killed in the after-part of the day, if we had seen 
enough of the disease in its mitigated form, that we might institute a 
post-mortem examination. This arrangement met with our concurrence, 
and especially as other cases had occurred since this cow was attacked, 
which we were busily engaged in watching the progress of, as by it 
an opportunity would be afforded of seeing the lesions which were early 
produced by the malady. 
Sectio Cadaveris. — Respiratory Organs. —Mucous membrane of 
the nasal cavities slightly congested, and covered in patches by a 
small quantity of a yellowish and somewhat viscid discharge. Larynx 
healthy; trachea nearly free from injection, but containing some thin 
shreds of colourless lymph lying in close contact with its lining mem¬ 
brane. Bronchi healthy; lungs perfectly healthy. No effusion into 
the thorax. 
Circulating Organs.— Heart and its vessels healthy. Blood, dark in 
colour and but partially coagulated, the coagulum being very soft. 
Digestive Organs. —Tongue healthy; fauces and velum congested; 
pharynx and oesophagus healthy. Rumen healthy, containing a fail- 
amount of ingesta. Reticulum and omasum likewise free from struc¬ 
tural disease, and no hardness of the contents of the omasum ( loser 
durre ). Slight efflorescence of the mucous membrane of the abomasum 
in patches was present, and nearly throughout the membrane was dotted 
over with yellowish points, produced by effusions of lymph into its folli¬ 
cles. The contents of the stomach were fluid, in which floated some shreds 
of lymph. The duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were nearly free from 
disease, presenting, however, here and thSre, a similar state of the 
mucous membrane to that of the abomasum. The caecum, colon, and 
rectum were filled with fluid faeces, but their mucous membrane was, on 
the whole, free from structural change. 
Liver healthy in substance ; the gall-ducts were, however, enlarged 
and thickened in their coats from chronic disease associated with de¬ 
positions of osseous matter. The gall-bladder was filled with bile, and 
its mucous membrane was likewise affected with effusions of lymph 
into its follicles analogous to the abomasum and intestines. 
Pancreas and Spleen. —Healthy. 
Urinary System— Kidneys, bladder, &c., free from disease. 
Nervous System .—The brain, spinal marrow, and their membranes, 
were healthy, in so far as the structural appearance indicated. 
(To be continued .) 
