The disease was between the first and second vertebræ, commencing in the cartilage, and nearly destroying the neighbouring vertebræ at their centres. The bone surrounding the cavity was red, soft, and infiltrated with strumous matter.
Pleura and bronchi healthy.
Both lungs contained hard masses of grey strumous pneumonic deposit, mostly in the apices, but also in the lower lobes; these masses presented the appearance of a conglomeration of tubercles, held together by inflammatory matter. Heart and pericardium healthy. Hearts weight 7
1/2 oz. The blood on microscopic examination contained the same excess of white corpuscles observed in life. Stomach healthy, slightly adherent to the left supra-renal capsule; its structure was not affected. Spleen large, firm, 71/2 oz. in weight. Corpuscles visible. The pancreas and all other abdominal organs were healthy. The head was not examined.Each supra-renal capsule was completely destroyed and converted into a mass of strumous disease, the latter of all degrees of consistency. The left supra-renal capsule had formed at the upper part a close connexion with the outer coat of the stomach. The upper part of this capsule seemed fluid, and of the colour of pus; the lower firmer; and of the consistency of putty. The right capsule had all degrees of consistency from the bottom to the top; the lower part almost fluid and resembling pus, the centre putty-like, and above this the matter could be detached in flakes; and at the top it was quite earthy, separate angular pieces being easily detached. Vide Plates III. and IV.
Although this patient was known to be labouring under a serious affection of the spine, the ordinary indications of disease of the supra-renal capsules were sufficiently prominent to justify the prediction, which was so satisfactorily confirmed by the post-mortem examination. It is also worthy of remark, that although the patient, as usual, suffered considerably from irritability of the stomach, there was but little change observable in that organ after death.