56 TKEATMENT OF DISEASES 



colicky pains, gets down in torment, and often goes into convulsions, 

 and soon dies. 



The urine has a very peculiar appearance : it varies from pink to 

 a dark brown color. 



The diagnostic symptom of splenic apoplexy, with enlargement of 

 the same, is a notable enlargement on the left side of the abdomen, 

 well up towards the ribs; on standing right behind the animal, and 

 casting one's eye carefully along the sides of the abdominal walls, 

 a perceptible eminence will be seen, which cannot be mistaken. 

 The region of the spleen is between the stomach and false ribs, on 

 the left side. 



When the spleen is not enlarged, but merely congested, then we 

 resort to percussion in order to detect the same. 



The cause of death in splenic apoplexy is an abdominal accumu- 

 lation and effusion of blood, in the interior of the spleen, with rup- 

 ture of its constituent texture ; and it is safe to infer that the disease 

 is primarily the result of a deranged or diseased condition of the assim- 

 ilatory system, occasioned by errors in diet. The curative treatment 

 of splenic ajDoplexy is very unsatisfactory ; but in case of enlarge- 

 ment of the spleen, we may often succeed in aiding nature to cure 

 the malady, by administering iodide of potass and vegetable tonics. 



ElVIBRYOTOMY. 



The operation of embryotomy, as practiced by veterinarians, sig- 

 nifies dismemberment — disembowelment, &c., of the foetal colt — 

 located within the uterus and vagina. I presume that very few 

 persons, unless they understand the anatomy of the parts, would 

 like to undertake this formidable operation ; yet it has often been 

 the means of saving the lives of very many valuable breeding mares ; 

 hence I propose, in a brief manner, to give the readers of this»work 

 Bome idea of the modus ojjerandi. 



The instrument used in the practice of embryotomy, is a crooked 

 beak-pointed knife, which can be so concealed in the hand as not to 

 be capable of doing any injury. 



Mode op OpERAxioisr. — Having introduced the knife within the 

 uterine cavity, I run my hand along the fostal limb to the top of the 

 shoulder, if possible, and there turn the knife and send its beak 



Eoint through the integument, and slit the same to the region of the 

 nee ; a slip-noose is affixed to the fetlock, and while an assistant is 

 making steady traction on the same, I loosen the integument from 

 the limb, then by a little dexterity in the use of the knife at the top 

 of the shoulder, and elsewhere, the whole leg is drawn away. After 

 amputating the shoulder, I make an incision through the cartilages 

 of the ribs, this exposes the whole of the thoracic viscera, which I 

 remove. If the bulk of the colt appears to be sufficiently removed 

 to insure its extraction, I affix a noose to the remaining fore leg and 

 by traction remove the carcass; the only difficulty in the way of a 

 prompt extraction occurs, ofttimes, in conse(juence of the fcrtal liead 

 being bent round on the opposite side of the chest; but under ordi- 



