ABSCESS OF THE SPLEEN.
In Solipeds: in infectious diseases, pyæmia, embolism. Symptoms: of primary disease or ill health. Involving other organs. In cattle: foreign bodies from reticulum, distomata, embolism, microbes. Enlargement: involving other organs: seen in left hypochondrium, fever, albuminuria. Treatment: aspiration, antiseptic injections, internal antiseptics.
Soliped. Abscess of the spleen in this animal is unusual and has only been discovered post mortem. It has been found as the result of the local colonization of pyogenic microbes, in connection with strangles, contagious pneumonia and other infectious diseases and can then often be traced to an infected embolus in the splenic blood vessels. The peculiar vascular structure of the spleen is very conducive to abscess as it is to infarction, as has been already noticed and hence this complication of a pre-existing infection in another part is a natural pathological sequence. Symptoms are rather the general ones of a rigor followed by hyperthermia than any diagnostic ones of splenic disease. Bourges found a splenic abscess in a cachectic, melanic mule but no definite splenic symptom was observed even on rectal examination. Nottel found an abscess as large as an infant’s head, in the base of the spleen, closely adherent by its sac to the left kidney and containing a floating mass of splenic tissue as large as the closed fist. Rutherford found a neoplasm connecting the great curvature of the stomach, to the diaphragm, and hollowed out into a series of pus cavities. Fetzner and Cadeac report cases of extensive abscesses in the head of the spleen and intimately connected to both stomach and diaphragm. Hahn found abscesses in connection with the penetration of the spleen by foreign bodies. In other cases the substance of the spleen was studded with abscesses varying in size from a pea upward and containing necrotic tissue or adjoining such dead tissue.
Ruminants. In cattle the penetration of the spleen by sharp pointed bodies coming from the reticulum appears to be the most common cause of abscess. Other cases depend on the penetration of distomata carrying the pyogenic microbes, and still others are due, as in the horse, to local infection with embolism. External traumatisms are unusual causes. There is usually considerable enlargement of the spleen as a whole, rounded swellings indicating the seat of the abscess, and adhesions to surrounding parts, such as the rumen, the left kidney or the diaphragm. When the abscess is chronic, there is emaciation, unusual flatness on percussion of the left hypochondrium, and, at times, of the flank, swelling and tenderness of the flank, above all, according to Imminger, a persistent elevation of temperature (104° to 106° F.), which is not lowered by antithermics, and albuminuria. In cattle it is sometimes possible to diagnose the disease, and if the abscess can be definitely located, aspiration and antiseptic injections into the sac would be indicated, conjoined with calcium sulphide, or sodium sulphite internally.
FOREIGN BODIES IN THE SPLEEN.
In horse: body from intestine. In ruminants bodies from reticulum. Laparotomy.
One such case in the Horse is reported by Hahn. A mare had loss of appetite, slight colics, frequent efforts to urinate, dullness, prostration, profuse perspirations, and tremors of the muscular walls of the abdomen. Rectal examination detected a staff-shaped body extended from behind forward in the direction of the stomach. The mare survived twenty days, when it was carried off by a more violent access of colic. At the necropsy, the spleen was found to measure 28 inches by 8; its base was adherent to a loop of intestine, and presented a large cavity filled with a grayish brown fœtid liquid, and a piece of oak measuring 17 inches by ½ inch.
Ruminants. In cattle and especially in those that are stabled, needles, pins, nails, wires and other sharp pointed bodies, that have been swallowed with the food, and have become entangled in the reticulated walls of the second stomach, have been found to penetrate the spleen and determine local abscess and fistulæ. The offending body in such cases is found in the interior of the abscess or in its walls. If such cases can be diagnosed the superficial position of the spleen would seem to warrant surgical interference for the removal of the foreign body.
RUPTURE OF THE SPLEEN.
Solipeds: Causes: Blows, kicks, goring, leukæmia, compression of splenic or gastric veins, anthrax infection. Lesions: Blood may escape into peritoneum or remain confined under serosa. Splenic degeneration or pulpy condition. Fractured ribs, ecchymosis, surface swellings. Spontaneous arrest. Symptoms: Of internal hemorrhage. Vomiting. Trembling. Vertigo. Coma. Treatment: Rest, quiet, locally ice, snow, cold, internally iron chloride, matico, astringents, anodynes. Cattle: Blows, crowding, leukæmia, youth, anthrax, Texas fever, microbes. Symptoms: Persistent lying down, advancing bloodlessness, surface coldness, stiffness, local tenderness, fluctuation. Treatment as in horse.