Investigations into the Nature, Causation, and Prevention of Texas or Southern Cattle Fever Page: 27
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THE NATURE OF TEXAS CATTLE FEVER. 27
region between duodenum and liver. The omentum frequently dis-
plays peculiar hyperaemic patches consisting of delicate shreds of vas-
cular tissue made visible to the naked eye by the injected condition of
the blood-vessels.
Spleen.-That this organ in Texas fever is very much enlarged was
commented upon by the earlier observers, and the name " splenic
fever" took its origin from this condition. Gamgee, in 1868, caused
to be weighed the spleens of a large number of native Western cattle,
of Cherokee cattle (supposed to have come from the Indian Territory)
and of Texan cattle. These animals were considered healthy and fit
for human consumption.
The average weight of the native Western spleen was 1.45 pounds;
of the Cherokee spleen, 1.94 pounds; of the Texan spleen, 2.5 pounds.
A number of spleens were weighed at one of the Washington abat-
toirs to determine the normal weight. The result is given in the fol-
lowing table:
Weight Weight
Date. of of
steer. spleen.
Pounds. Pounds.
October 10, 1893 ..--....................................... ---............ No. 1.. 950 1.75
Do----..-..---.-----.....--...---.....---..---........--....-----.....---....------.........-------.--......---No.2.. 900 1.75
Do....................------------------------...---------................-----------------.......................No.3.. 1,000 1.90
Do ........................... ...................................... N o.4.. 1,000 2.37
Do.....-----------...--.....------..--...--.......-----.................------..------...----...--..-----....... No.5.. 1,000 1.50
October 15, 1890---...----..-......---............-------.....--..------.......-----.--------...-...........No. 6.. 1, 300 2. 25
Do-----...-...----..-------------..--...--..........-----------........---.........---....---------..............No.7.. 1,100 1.75
October 22, 1890..-------...----..---...----....------..-......---------.................--..----------.........No.8. 1, 400 2.00
Do...................................----.......--..--...----....------...----------.......No.9. 1,300 1.90
The source of these animals was not determinable. It will be noted
that the weight varies considerably, although in all the appearance of
the organ, both as to its capsule and pulp, was the same. The weight
of each animal was estimated by the butcher in charge. These exam-
inations were made at a time when any destructive influences of the sum-
mer on the blood may not have been entirely neutralized. How far the
bleeding of the animals at the time of slaughter may have affected the
weightof the spleen in comparison with that of cattle which succumbed
to the fever with the blood in their system it is of course impossible to
estimate. By taking the average of the above nine cases, the weight
of the spleen of a steer weighing 1,000 pounds would be 1.72 pounds.
The weight of the spleen in Texas fever varies considerably, accord-
ing to the stage of the disease in which the animal succumbs. Animals
which die after some days of high fever have usually the largest spleens,
although this is not an invariable rule. If we compare the weights of
spleens as given in the appendix under many of the cases it will be
seen that in acute cases the spleen is generally from two to four times
its weight in health.
If we turn for a moment to examine its appearance we find its gen-
eral shape unaltered, but the ordinarily rather thick whitish capsule
very much distended and attenuated so that the dark pulp shows
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Smith, Theobold & Kilborne, Fred Lucius. Investigations into the Nature, Causation, and Prevention of Texas or Southern Cattle Fever, book, 1893; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth143538/m1/27/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting University of Texas Health Science Center Libraries.