Ill TREATMENT OF DISEASES 



DIPTHERIA. 



Diptlieria among horses is not a very common malady, yet it does 

 sometimes occur, as the sequel of suppurative laryngitis. It is a 

 very dangerous aftection, from- the fact that the exudation and m.or- 

 bid material generates Avithiu the respiratory passages. 



In view of furnishing the reader some relialDle information on this 

 subject, I here introduce a case, as recorded in my note book. 



The subject is an entire colt, aged four years, son of the celebrated 

 Patchen, now owned by J. MePherson, of Chicago, and valued at 

 twenty-five hundred dollars. 



On the 25th of September, 1862, I was requested to proceed to 

 the " Cattle Pens" and examine the above named horse, the messen- 

 ger informing me that the animal was " choking to death." On ar- 

 rival I found the animal in a dangerous condition ; he appeared to 

 be gasping for breath ; a loud stertorous noise, which could be heard 

 at some distance, indicated the nature of the difficulty as depending 

 on obstruction within the larynx ; the pulse at the angle of the jaw 

 was very indistinct; both pupils were dilated or amaurotic ; the 

 extremities and external surface of the body were deathly cold ; the 

 tongue and visible mucous surfaces were livid, indicating speedy 

 death. Once in a while the animal would be seized with a convul- 

 sive or spasmodic fit of coughing, which every time seemed to 

 threaten his existence ; in these fits of coughing, he passed from his 

 nostrils a sort of cheesy matter, which seemed to be mixed up with 

 a diptherial exudation and yellow matter, and from the mouth con- 

 stantly streamed a frothy and glairy discharge. 



Under the above circumstances, I considered that the atteraj>t to 

 administer medicine would only be trifling with the life of the patient ; 

 hence, I decided to perform the operation of tracheotomy, which 

 was done in the following manner: 



Having secured the survices of a couple of assistants, the horse 

 was led to a convenient spot in the centre of the stable. I then 

 commenced an incision over the central part of the trachea or wind- 

 pipe, about eight inches below the angle of the jaw. The animal 

 did not appear to like this sort of treatment, and seemed disposed to 

 resist and give battle, so that I was obliged to put a twitch on the 

 point of his nose. Plaving laid bare the trachea, I punctured it, and 

 by means of a probe-pointed bistoury dissected out a circular piece, 

 corresponding to the calibre of the tracheotomy tube. At this mo- 

 ment the horse experienced immediate relief and oflered no further 

 resistance. The tube was then inserted and secured to the neck by 

 means of elastic tape, and in the course of a few minutes the alarm- 

 ing symptoms had entirely subsided. 



I then applied a counter-irritant to the region of the throat, 

 (larynx), composed of cod-liver oil, spirits of ammonia and camphor, 

 ordered a " bran-mash," and secured the services of a faithful watch- 

 man. The operation was performed at night, guided by the uncer- 

 tain rays of a couple of dilapidated stable lanterns, yet luckily "all 

 is well that ends well ;" my patient came out all right. 



For several days he had a very copious discharge from both nos- 

 trils, and also from the tracheal orifice, so that the tracheotomy tube 



