LIVERPOOL VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 145 
Post-mortem appearances. 
Upon stripping the skin off the affected part, which is usually 
blown up like a bladder, the subcutaneous cellular tissues are found 
to be engorged with semi-coagulated blood, which, if cut into, gives 
exit to a large quantity of serum. The subjacent muscles are dark 
in colour and easily torn; there is a manifest want of the ordinary 
cohesive properties of the blood. In all the blood-vessels of the 
whole body, in both the arteries and veins, the blood is thin, black, 
and watery, having very little tendency to coagulate—does not even 
redden on exposure to atmospheric air—but passes rapidly into 
decomposition. The serous membranes, all over the body, are 
spotted with ecchymosis the heart will be found flabby and filled 
with black and partially coagulated blood. Frequently the intestines 
give evidence of the state of irritation during life, and usually 
spotted with ecchymosis. The lungs are gorged with black blood, 
and often there is found an effusion of a bloody character in the 
abdominal cavity. 
The seat of the congestion, whether it be internal or external, 
presents the same appearance, and is distinguishable by the same 
physical characteristics. 
Prevention of Quarter III. 
There is an old, nevertheless a very true, saying, that prevention 
is always better than a cure. It is a well-known fact, to all here, 
that this adage is very applicable to this disease, because of its 
rapid progress,—in fact, so short is the interval from the first 
attack to the death of the animal, that the services of a professional 
man are very rarely attainable. 
The administration of any specific to prevent black leg, further 
than reducing the animal, if in a plethoric state, by physicing and 
a moderation of diet, cannot be too much deprecated, as it can only 
lead to disappointment and loss on the part of the farmer, by 
inducing him to neglect other and more important measures. It is 
my opinion that there is more benefit derived from setoning in the 
dewlap, than any other remedy yet known. The principles of 
setoning may here be explained : it has been already pointed out 
that the proximate cause of this disease is a deficiency of fibrin in 
the blood, and it has been found by the experience of medical men, 
that if an inflammatory action can be set up in the system, even 
should it be circumscribed and local, the amount of fibrin in the 
blood is immediately increased. 
Now, the quickest and best plan for raising and maintaining a 
local inflammatory action in cattle, and thus keeping up the proper 
amount of fibrin in the blood, is by inserting a seton in the dew¬ 
lap ; and to receive its full benefit the operation should be performed 
at an early period of life, say from four to six months old; and it 
is necessary that the action of the seton should be kept up by 
means of a little digestive, and drawn to and fro, about twice a 
