There were no signs of external violence, but she died the third day afterward.

The abdomen was found full of blood, and the spleen and peritoneal covering was ruptured for three inches.
Splenectomy, excision of the spleen, has been performed a number of times, with varying results, but is more successful when performed for injury than when for disease.

Ashhurst has tabulated a total of 109 operations, 27 having been for traumatic causes, and all but five having terminated successfully; of 82 operations for disease, only 32 recovered.

Vulpius has collected 117 cases of splenectomy, with a death-rate of 50 per cent.

If, however, from these cases we deduct those suffering with leukocythemia and lardaceous spleen, in which the operation should not be performed, the mortality in the remaining 85 cases is reduced to 33 per cent.