A good deal of serous fluid was at times found underneath the kidney capsule.
On section the cortex appeared engorged with blood, and showed here and there, even to the naked eye, small hæmorrhages.
In the region of the appendix a few large mesenteric glands were invariably found, whilst a few glands might also be found in the wasted mesentery of the small intestine. In the region of the appendix the glands were frequently dark in colour. On opening the gut, minute hæmorrhages and ulcerated patches were to be found in the lower part of the ileum; the ileo-cæcal valve, and the whole of the large intestine, extending right up to the end of the appendix, was covered with a dark slate-blue slime, in which lead could be easily recognized by chemical processes.
Ulceration of the gastric mucous is uncommon, and only on one occasion were any hæmorrhages found. In the thoracic cavity the lungs were generally found to be emphysematous, and particularly in those animals subjected to inhalation of lead frit containing angular particles of lead glaze broncho-pneumonia was found.
The heart was flabby, and occasionally distinct roughening and thickening of the valves was seen.
Nervous System.—On opening the skull, hæmorrhages were frequently found at the base of the brain, occasionally situated over the surface of the cerebrum. Minute hæmorrhages were found often underneath the arachnoid membrane, but the largest hæmorrhages were always found at the base of the brain, and spreading down into the spinal canal along the medulla.
On removing the cord, minute hæmorrhages were found along the surface, irregular in distribution, and never very large. On section the brain and cord appeared normal.
Histology.
—A large number of sections were prepared from the animals developing symptoms of poisoning; the various tissues are described seriatim:
Muscles.—These appear to have undergone general fatty degeneration. The individual muscle fibres are indistinct in outline, and show irregular areas stained by hæmatoxylin. Some infiltration may be seen here and there between the muscle fibres, and minute hæmorrhages are occasionally detected, the chief appearance being that of general atrophy. The heart muscle shows similar degeneration, and the tendency of the sarcolemma to break down and stain irregularly is apparent. In many areas the muscle fibres stain poorly, if at all. Occasionally minute hæmorrhages are found, passing between the muscle fibres.