CATTLE PLAGUE.. 
23 
matter existed; the bowels were in a state of chronic in¬ 
flammation and quite rotten* the slightest touch breaking 
through them: they were full of hard fseces. The whole 
sub-lumbar region was occupied by thin pus* and the 
psoas muscles -were as soft as if boiled. We next ex¬ 
amined the. kidneys, which had been previously removed* 
and found each to be of a whitish-yellow colour* soft in 
texture* but still of greater firmness than the other diseased 
organs. I at once said they had undergone fatty degenera¬ 
tion* which I afterwards found to be the case by aid of a 
microscope. The outside of the bladder had a black appear¬ 
ance* and when cut into was full of mixed pus* smelling 
very badly . A quantity of thick pus obstructed the urethra 
for about four inches; at the base it was an inch in circum¬ 
ference* at the apex about a quarter of an inch; it was 
found to be carrot-shaped in form when drawn out. The coats 
of the bladder w T ere about a quarter of an inch thick* and very 
soft. The ureters were greatly changed. The spermatic cords 
were not altogether healthy* but were more so than the other 
organs. We did not examine the brain* but had we done so I am 
confident it would have been found congested* as there is no 
doubt that death was caused by blood poisoning. My opinion 
is that the disease arose independent of the castration* as such 
entire degeneration could not* in my opinion* have taken place 
in the course of little more than a fortnight. . This conclusion 
is strengthened by the fact that the spermatic cords were 
almost healthy at the lower end* but not above* whereas had 
death proceeded from the castration I am of opinion that the 
cords would from end to end have been diseased. The owner 
believes that the castration of the animal was the cause of 
death ; as* however* I do not concur in this I am desirous of 
obtaining the opinion of some of the members of the profession. 
It should be observed that before the animal was cut it had 
a dull* languid* and unhealthy appearance. 
Pathological Contributions. 
CATTLE PLAGUE. 
It will have been observed by our last month’s report, that 
fears were then entertained of the entrance of the cattle plague 
into Belgium from the northern departments of France. These 
fears were quickly realised* and as early as December 3rd two 
cases of the disease were reported as having shown themselves 
in Belgium* near to the French frontier—one at Oycke* near 
