REPORTS OF CASES. 
357 
duties devolving on a veterinary surgeon, at such posts as are 
without but in need of veterinary service. 
But no veterinary surgeon should be appointed to the service 
until his qualifications have been determined by an examining 
board composed of at least one army veterinary surgeon, an army 
surgeon, and an officer of the Quartermaster’s Department. A cer¬ 
tain standard of proficiency shonld be required, as obtains in the 
Medical Department, and then a three months’ probation under 
the chief veterinary surgeon before assignment to independent 
duty. This would not only determine the candidate’s practical 
acquaintance with diseases, but introduce him to the other duties 
of his position. 
Such an organization is not only possible, but demanded by 
the best interests of the service. 
REPORTS OF CASES. 
ENLARGEMENT OF THE SPLEEN. 
By R. Harrison, D.Y.S. 
This subject was a gray gelding, sixteen years old and about 
fifteen hands high, used for a number of years in a hack. Had 
always worked well until the beginning of the present summer, 
when his appetite became capricious, until he could scarcely eat 
at all. Thinking a change would do him good, he was taken into 
the country, but could not be kept there, as he would invariably 
jump the fences and come home. He was kept for a time at the 
stable, doing but little work, until he became so feeble that he 
was sent to the scavenger’s to be destroyed. 
On making an incision along the median line, about two gal¬ 
lons of dark, serous fluid escaped, and a large black mass was no¬ 
ticed on the left side. This being unusual they sent for me, as I 
had asked them to let me know when they saw anything that was 
out of the common run. 
The large black mass referred to was the spleen, enlarged to 
an enormous extent and weighing 56 pounds. Its length was 43 
inches, breadth 20J-, circumference 9 feet and 2 inches, and 9 
