DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS. 79 
to an accumulation of effete products in the blood on the 
other. 
An important question naturally arises in reference to 
these diseases affecting such vital organs; it is asked, “how 
is it possible for an animal, with his heart so changed in 
structure, as to have lost the appearances which belong to its 
healthy fibres, and with a liver enlarged to nearly double its 
proper size, softened, pulpy, pallid and incapable of supporting 
its own weight without breaking to pieces; offering no resist¬ 
ance to the finger; its cells charged to bursting with fat- 
globules; its capsule on the point of giving way to the pres¬ 
sure of its contents; its function perverted, to exist under 
ordinary conditions of stable management, performing some 
kind of work, subjected to the same supervision as other 
animals in the same establishment, without showing some 
signs of derangement ?” 
The question is pertinent and cannot be evaded; but as 
scientific pathologists we are not concerned with the possi- 
bilitv. We have to do with the facts as we observe them; 
and first let us clearly state a case that is not hypothetical, 
nor exaggerated. 
A horse, young, perfectly lively, with good appetite, and 
in the common acceptation of the word, healthy, is sold by 
the dealer, who had the animal from the country in a 
plethoric condition, and has done his best to keep him so. 
The horse has had daily exercise in harness or with the 
saddle, and up to the moment of his removal is “fresh.” 
Previous to his purchase he is ridden or driven, or both, and 
evidences by his actions an exuberance of spirits, opposed to 
the suspicion of serious constitutional derangement. He is 
not, of course, severely tried ; a fat, " dealer’s horse,” is not 
supposed to be in a condition to undertake a long journey, 
or run with the hounds ; but short of this, there is nothing 
which the dealer, the horseman, or even the veterinary sur¬ 
geon can discover, except what is apparent to everybody, 
66 the horse is fat” his heart beats quickly after a little exer¬ 
tion, his respiration is similarly excited, nevertheless his eye 
is clear and bright, his spirits are good, and his appetite 
excellent. In this state he is taken to his new home; during 
the journey or from change of stable he contracts a little cold, 
which quickly takes on an unfavorable character, the disease 
extending to the lungs, and in one week from the time of 
sale he dies, and on examination is found to be affected as we 
have described, with enlargement and softening of the liver, 
and fatty degeneration of the heart, in addition to the pul¬ 
monary affection which has immediately destroyed his life. 
