Symptoms. These are suggestive rather than diagnostic. Most prominent is the condition of the blood with excess of leucocytes and especially of the eosinophile cells. Weakness, emaciation, feebleness of pulse, bloodlessness, bleeding from the nose or other natural passages, are attendant symptoms. In cases of extreme hypertrophy distension of the abdomen is marked and even the enlarged spleen may be made out by palpation, there may be special tenderness and dullness on percussion. Even partial sweats over the region of the spleen (Cadeac), and stretching with the fore feet far in advance (Welsby) have been noted as symptoms. In such conditions the animal walks stiffly, groans in turning, or when suddenly started and is with difficulty urged beyond a walk. There may be ascites, signs of colic, or irregularity of the bowels. Rectal exploration may reveal the hypertrophy.
Treatment is usually the treatment of the primary disease. In glanders, tuberculosis, lymphadenoma, or leucocythemia there is little to hope for. Nor is there much in hepatic cirrhosis, obstruction of the vena cava or valvular disease of the heart. In simple hypertrophy we may resort to quinia or other bitters, eucalyptus, saline laxatives, exercise in the open air and sunshine, and local currents of electricity.
SPLENIC HYPERTROPHY IN RUMINANTS.
A moderate hypertrophy is the rule in the case of cattle which have passed through the Southern cattle fever, but have continued to live within the area of its prevalence. Gamgee’s observations in 1868 were very conclusive on this point. In over 1,000 western cattle the average weight of the spleen was 1.45 ℔., in 441 Cherokee (Indian Territory) cattle the average was 2.34 ℔s., and in 262 Texas cattle the average was 2.66 ℔s. All these animals were killed for beef, in what was considered to be perfect health. The difference relative to the weight of the entire animal is even greater than is indicated above, for at that date even more than at present, the Texas steer was a small and thin animal in comparison with the portly western bullock.
In lymphadenoma the organ may weigh 24 ℔s. (Tannenhauser); in simple hypertrophy it has been found to weigh 37 ℔s. (Koch). There was usually a marked increase in the size and number of the Paccinian bodies, and hyperplasia of the fibrous reticulum, while the pulp might be deficient and the cut surface rather dry. The adjacent lymph glands are usually enlarged.
Symptoms. Unless in the case of excessive increase, no symptom is usually observable, apart from leucocythæmia. With enormous hypertrophy the enlarged organ may be recognized by palpation, percussion, and perhaps rectal exploration.
Treatment is unsatisfactory apart from the control and arrest of the primary diseases. For simple hypertrophy, bitters, laxatives and electricity may be tried.
SPLENIC HYPERTROPHY IN SWINE.
Causes. This disease appears to be rather frequent in pigs, in connection with high feeding, and more particularly with leucocythæmia and lymphadenoma. It is further a complication of tuberculosis and of neoplasms located in the spleen, and of hepatic, cardiac and pulmonary disorder.
Lesions. In leucocythæmia there is general enlargement of the spleen, and especially of the Paccinian bodies which may attain the size of a pea (Leisering, Fürstenberg, Bollinger, Siedamgrotzky, Röll, Ellinger). The total weight of the organ may attain to 5 lbs. (Mathieu), or 13 lbs. (Goubaux). In a remarkable case recorded by Zell, the organ measured 30 inches in its longest circumference and 20 inches in its shortest. It had an enormous thickening of the capsule and trabeculæ which enclosed softened contents in a state of fatty degeneration.