24th. The animal dejected; appetite indifferent. The vein can be traced as a thickened cord as far as the sternum. Respiration 12 (the natural standard); pulse 50.
25th. The parts around the vein much infiltrated with serum: pulse 55; respiration 12.
26th. The wound in the neck began to suppurate, and an abscess subsequently formed in the course of the vein, about midway between the opening and the sternum. The general symptoms continued, with very slight variation, until the 4th of December, when the animal was destroyed.
Post-mortem appearances. The jugular vein was found to have become inflamed only in the course of the circulation, and to be obliterated a short distance below the external opening. The surrounding parts were greatly infiltrated with serum and lymph, and several abscesses had formed in the immediate neighbourhood. The lungs did not present any well-defined patches of congestion, as in the last mentioned experiment.
A healthy ass, six years old, was operated on upon the 16th of November, 1848. The respiration was naturally 14 in the minute, and the pulse 38. About two ounces of highly offensive pus, obtained from the frontal sinus of a horse, were injected into the left jugular vein; the pus had unintentionally been mixed with water previous to its being injected. The vein became full during the operation, as though the blood in it were in a semi-coagulated state. The pulse now became 60, and the respiration 20 in a minute; slight rigors occurred in two hours.
November 17th. The animal is tranquil; appetite good; pulse 48, small and wiry; respiration 16. In the evening he was rather more excited; the vein was becoming inflamed downwards towards the heart; pulse 60; respiration 20.
November 18th. The vein was more inflamed, and slight suppuration was visible at the orifice of the wound. Respiration 16; pulse 55. From this period to the 23rd, the pulse continued from 55 to 60, and the respiration varied from 12 to 18.
November 26th. The swelling in the situation of the vein is rapidly subsiding; pulse 55; respiration 12.
The animal gradually recovered, and on the 26th of February, 1849, was made the subject of another experiment. The right jugular vein having been opened, two fluid ounces of pure healthy pus were injected, and propelled in the course of the circulation, by pressure upon the vein externally. The vein became tense during the operation, and sensibly resisted the attempts that were made to propel its contents towards the heart. Even forcible pressure was not sufficient to overcome the resistance offered to the return of blood. Soon after the operation, the animal had a rigor; the breathing became laborious, but not accelerated; pulse 57.