278 TRANSLATIONS FROM CONTINENTAL JOURNALS. 
In one instance only, in a cow, and which was seen for the 
first time fifteen days after the attack, had the swelling ex¬ 
tended to the shoulder and the neck, and was more on the 
left side than in the two last-named regions. Nothing is so 
O O 
clearly defined as these emphysematous swellings. They 
present very little elevation, and the borders are but inde¬ 
finitely marked; besides which their surface is at times 
slightly undulating; they are also crepitant, and somewhat 
moist. They are easily compressed by the fingers, without, 
however, leaving any impression like ordinary oedema. On 
passing the hand over these swellings, compressing them at 
the same time, not only is the sound of the gas distinctly 
heard, but there is also a bulging in advance of the direction 
of the hand, on the removal of which the parts resume their 
former shape. One would be led to think that it would be 
sufficient to puncture the swollen parts, so as to let out the 
gas, and thus reduce them ; but this is not the case, for, how¬ 
ever numerous the openings made in the skin, the emphy¬ 
sema still persists if recourse be not had to auxiliary means. 
This is owing to the greater density of the gas contained in 
the cellular tissue than the atmospheric air. On the other 
hand, it often happens that the cellular tissue fills again in a 
few hours after having been emptied, particularly at the 
beginning of the malady. 
Duration and termination .—The total duration of the disease 
did not extend beyond a fortnight in the first two cases. In 
the third case, the incisions having been made at the com¬ 
mencement, they speedily closed, and the swellings had pro¬ 
gressed considerably on the fifteenth day after the invasion. 
She got well at the end of a month. On the eighteenth day 
arthritis manifested itself in both hocks. This did not, how¬ 
ever, retard the cure of the emphysema. 
From the foregoing, one might be authorised in saying 
that if the emphysema were left to itself, it would extend, if 
not indefinitely, at least continue for a very long time, 
because, according to the appearance, the absorption of the 
gas effused into the cellular tissue would be very slow, and 
the quantity removed, if any, very small. 
Physiology and pathology .—To arrive at a knowledge of the 
manner in which the gas had become effused into the cellular 
tissue, it was necessary to ascertain its composition. M. 
Laroque, professor of chemistry, undertook the analysis, and 
found its composition to be as follows: oxygen, 10; carbonic 
acid, 5; azote, or nitrogen, 85. This analysis, to the regret 
of the author, could not be depended upon as to the accuracy 
of the quantities. It shows that there exists a certain rela- 
