Rifle Shooter – July 2019

32 http://www.rifleshootermagazine.co.uk

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Q

After a successful stalk the other night, I brought a roe buck

back to the house for lardering. On splitting the sternum to

gain access to the red pluck, I noticed that one lung was stuck

to the chest wall. In this particular case, it was only a small area of

lung, which was attached to the chest wall, measuring about 4" in

diameter (see picture) The lung itself was still spongy and air-filled

and there was no fluid accumulation in the chest cavity. The

remainder of the lung fields and what was left of the heart appeared

normal. I checked the bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes and

they were both normal. So I made the decision that the carcass was

fit for human consumption.

The question that remains is why was the lung attached to the

chest wall in the first place?

A

JAMES SIMPSON replies: The lung was stuck to the chest wall

by what are called adhesions. These fibrin tags often arise

when there is injury or inflammation present, and, initially, they

are easily broken down and the lung freed from the chest wall. With

time, they change to fibrous tissue, which is much firmer and makes

it much harder to free the lung from the chest wall.

In this buck, the cause of this inflammation was probably some

form of blunt trauma, such as being hit by a car, running into a fence

post or fighting with another buck. I think the latter is the most likely

cause in this case, given the time of year and location of the buck.

However, adhesions can be a very serious indicator of disease.

Pneumonia, severe lungworm infection, TB, pleurisy and penetrating

foreign bodies may result in not only adhesions but also infection

within the lung and or chest cavity. When this is the case, there will

usually be extensive adhesions (see picture) and often the chest

cavity will contain a red fluid or even pus. Local lymph nodes will

usually be enlarged. These are sick deer and will often be in poor body

condition. In such cases, the carcass should be condemned and

should not enter the food chain. As usual in these situations, always

take great care of your own personal protection when handling such

animals. Many of the organisms involved in this situation can affect

the stalker as well as the deer.

Sticky lungs?

TONY

LOWRY

DOGS FOR DEER

Tony is a

gamekeeper and

founder of UK

Deer Track and

Recovery

DOM

HOLTAM

EDITOR-IN-

CHIEF

Dom is an

experienced

stalker and deer

warden

ANDREW

VENABLES

SHOOTING

TECHNIQUE

Ace trainer with

a lifetime’s

experience in the

shooting field

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PARKIN

GUN

TESTING

Chris is a

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rifle tester and

writer

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CROW

FOX

CONTROL

Farmer Andy

Crow has 40

years’ fox control

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NISBET

LEGAL

ADVICE

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is the man to ask

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queries

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SIMPSON

VETERINARY

ADVICE

James is a

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surgeon and

keen deer stalker

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JAMES SIMPSON