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of which were of the size of the small, or Lucca olive, and were distended with grumous blood. Besides these, there was a larger cist in the right lobe of the lungs, which was filled with deep-coloured ichor: this lobe adhered to the pleura in great part of its surface. The lungs in general were of a deep red colour, and here and there upon their surface beginning to sphacelate.
The figure of the human heart is that of a cone, divided through its axis; but in this case, the heart's figure was altered, and was more compressed than usual; and its ventricles distended with grumous blood.
Every other part of the body was in its natural state.
From this examination we find that in this instance respiration was greatly disturbed, to say nothing of the cist in the right lobe, nor of the adhesion of that lobe to the pleura, from two manifest and potent causes; viz. the varicose state of the pulmonary vein, and the emphysema throughout the whole substance of the lungs.
The varices of the pulmonary vein not only retarded the blood in its passage to the left auricle of the heart; but, occupying a much larger space in the lungs than they naturally should, they left less room for the minute ramifications of the bronchia to extend themselves; and consequently a less quantity of air was taken in at every inspiration than was necessary for the ordinary purposes of life.
But the disorder of the lungs from the varices was made infinitely worse by the emphysema. For by the extravasate air possessing so large a portion of the lungs, and which the patient could by no means partwith
