OF FARRIERY. 



137 



We win now •ndeavour to describe the 

 mode of operating. Tlie situation most eligible 

 lor the openmg, is that wherein a depending 

 orifice may be gained for the complete 

 evacuation of the water, without danger of 

 wounding important parts by the puncture. 

 If it be carried too low, the mediastinal folds, 

 or even the pericardium may be endangered ; 

 but this would only occur unless you attempted 

 the puncture perpendicularly, so as to make 

 the puncture between the cartilages of the 

 ribs ; but in either of the co.-tal openings, be- 

 tween the seventh and tenth ribs, about an 

 inch above their termination into cartilage 

 (^See Plate of Skeleton), an opening may be 

 first made by a scalpal, towards the anterior 

 edge of the rib, to avoid wounding the inter- 

 costal vessels, first drawing the skin a little 

 forwards or backwards, to ensure a future 

 closing to the access of air. Having done this 

 carefuJIy, introduce a three-inch trochar, by 

 penetrating the muscle between any of the 

 above-mentioned ribs, withdraw your trochar, 

 and allow the cannula to remain in until the 

 whole of the (luid is drawn off". Having per- 

 formed the operation, and the discharge of the 

 fiuid convinces you were correct in your 

 judgment, puncture the opposite cavity in a 

 similar manner. If the dropsy, or accumula- 

 tion of fluid be fully formed, that is, if one or 

 both cavities be nearly filled with serosity, 

 less caution is necessary in the introduction of 

 the trochar ; and if the operation be performed 

 more early in the disease, which in general it 

 should be to ensure succes^s, then it is neces- 

 sary to proceed more cautiously, to avoid 

 puncturing the lungs. 



Having introduced the trochar, only so far 

 as to observe the gush of fiuid, put the can- 

 nula forward, retracting the trochar, conse- 



quently leaving the cannula alone in the 

 orifice. The cannula must be pushed up to 

 its collar, where it will remain, imtil the fluid 

 is all drawn off. 



Coa2:ula, or even the inflated lun^s. some- 

 times is found to obstruct the flowinii' of the 

 latter portions of the fluid ; to obviate which, 

 introduce a probe into the cannula occasionally, 

 until you are satisfied the whole is drawn off. 

 When the whole of the fluid has been with- 

 drawn, take out your cannula, and close the 

 orifice by adhesive plaister, or by the com- 

 mon suture ; for you must not think of per- 

 forming the operation a second time, as is 

 frequently practised in the human subject ; 

 for having drawn off the fluid, you must 

 depend upon the medicine as before pre- 

 scribed, fur if water again accumulates, the 

 debility will be so much the more increased, 

 and the natural consequent, the animal falling 

 under the disease. 



DROPSY OF THE PERICARDIUM. 



Dropsy of the pericardium is an increased 

 collection of fluid in the sac surrounding the 

 heart, therefore called dropsy of the heart. 

 The symptoms are the same as the pre- 

 ceding case ; but I am sorry to say there 

 is no means of cure, neither in the Horse 

 or the human subject ; therefore we must 

 submit to Nature in this case, and obey her 

 laws. 



In making this short account of the dropsy 

 of the heart, we do so more to convince the 

 public, who may unfortunately have such a 

 case ; for frequently the veterinary surgeon 

 may get blame w hen there is none attached to 

 him, for the loss of an animal (thus affected) 

 under his care. 



2 M 



