192 DISEASES OF THE LUNGS. 



might be considered in a gangrenous state. It was so 

 rotten, that it came off in bits between the finger and 

 thumb. The hmgs were perfectly collapsed, but other- 

 wise healthy,^' as were likewise all the abdominal viscera. 



The throes occasioned by difpicult parturition may 

 end in rupture of the diaphragm. Mr. Thomson relates a 

 case of this description,^ in which the muscle was discovered 

 " ruptured almost from side to side, across its fibres.^^ 



Rupture of the diaphragm after death. — On French 

 authority,^ I am now going to report two cases which would 

 appear to establish this among other facts connected with 

 our present investigation. 



A coach-horse ran his chest against the pole of a carriage, 

 fractured two of his ribs, and opened the intercostal arteries, 

 from which blood poured into the correspondent side : death 

 ensued twelve hours afterwards. He did not manifest after 

 the accident, or, indeed, had he at aay previous time shown, 

 anything symptomatic of ruptured diaphragm. His carcass 

 was examined fifteen hours after death. The belly was then 

 exceedingly distended. The diaphragm was found ruptured 

 on the right side through its upper part, not far from its 

 tendon; the laceration was very irregular, and measured four 

 inches in length. The arch of the colon completely closed 

 the breach. The fibres of the muscles were corrugated and 

 collected into parcels. The colour of the lacerated fibres 

 was the same as the rest of the muscle — a livid deathlike 

 hue; their edges were nowise tumefied. Not a streak of 

 blood appeared upon them, nor was a drop effused into the 

 abdomen. 



An adroit and experienced horse-gelder had a young 

 horse die suddenly after the removal of the first testicle. He 

 sent to the Lyons Veterinary School for assistance, and some 

 pupils went and examined the carcass. Although the horse 

 had been dead but twelve hours, the belly was found exceed- 

 ingly distended. They found the stomach ruptured towards 



» ' The Veterinarian' for 1835. 



• * Report of the Proceedings of the Royal Veterinary School at Lyons,' during 

 1831. 



