44 Method of stabbing Hoven Cattle. 
am of opinion, that flexible tubes may be forced down 
the passage which conducts to the lungs, by which most 
dangerous consequences would ensue. An instance of 
this kind occurred last year in this neighbourhood, 
when intending to force the passage of the paunch, and 
occasioned the loss of the animal. 
Neither the farmer or bailiff can be expected when 
going the rounds of the farm, to carry with him at all 
times an instrument so large as one of the flexible tubes; 
even if he had it, he could not make use of it without 
the assistance of a second person, and the disorder 
would be fatal in most instances before such assistance 
could be procured.. 
I considered that the trocar and canula commonly 
used by surgeons, might be employed to advantage for 
the relief of hoven cattle. I have employed the instru- 
ment to answer better the purpose here intended of pe- 
netrating the tense hides of cattle ; and such alteration 
materially facilitates the operation. 
The method of applying it is, to penetrate with the 
trocar and canula through the hide of the beast to the 
paunch on the near side, about six inches* from the back 
bone, at an equal distance from the last rib, and from 
the hip bone: then to withdraw the trocar, and to leave 
the canula in the wound until the air which the paunch 
contained has escaped. The canula may then be taken 
out, and the wound covered with a plaister of common 
* A member found that six inches was too small a dis- 
_ tance, as the kidney of a cow was injured when stabbed at 
that distance from the back bone by a knife. J. M. 
