DISEASE OF THE LUNGS AND CHIEF ARTERIAL TRUNKS. 811 
yellow substance, which was easily broken up into a pulpy 
mass. The material was soft in the centre, and contained a 
little calcareous matter in a granular form scattered through 
it. 
When the cavity of the chest was opened the lungs 
collapsed but very little. They had a dark mottled appear¬ 
ance, were also much enlarged, almost filling up the whole 
interior of the chest; besides which they were consolidated 
throughout. The cause of this consolidation was apparently 
the same in every part of the lungs as in the piece sent 
you. The pericardium and the exterior of the heart pre¬ 
sented nothing unusual; but the interior of the left auricle 
and ventricle—as you will notice—exhibited a very rare ap¬ 
pearance. The serous membranes of these cavities appa¬ 
rently contains a deposit of calcareous matter, and a similar 
deposit was found to exist throughout the posterior aorta and 
the external and internal iliac arteries, and also throughout 
the anterior aorta and the right and left anterior innominata. 
The serous membrane of the pulmonary veins showed the 
same morbid condition as that which you will observe in 
the serous membranes of the left auricle. The right side of 
the heart furnished no indications of disease. 
This case is to me one of an uncommon form of disease. 
It undoubtedly has had a constitutional origin. Is the dis¬ 
ease of the lungs cancerous in its nature ? Are the circu¬ 
latory organs loaded with atheromatous deposit undergoing 
chemical change ? I should be glad to know your opinion 
as to the nature of the morbid condition of the parts, and 
to have any remarks you may make on the case. 
I am, &c. 
To Professor Varnell.' 
REMARKS ON THE ABOVE CASE BY PROEESSOR YARNELL. 
The case to which the preceding letter refers is closely 
allied to two, the particulars of which were published in the 
May number of the Veterinarian for the present year. They 
are similar, not only as far as the nature of the disease is con¬ 
cerned, but also as regards the age of the several animals 
affected. The symptoms likewise, in each of these cases, both 
in the progress of the disease and its duration, were very much 
the same, a circumstance we cannot be surprised at when we 
consider their close identitv. 
%! 
I believe the disease to be cancerous in its nature, and that 
in all probability it had its origin primarily in the lymphatic 
glands of the mesentery, from whence its germs found their 
