266 DISEASES OF THE STOMACH. 



air rushed through the canula with great rapidity and noise. 

 The mare hastened its expulsion by frequently straining. 

 The canula, as the current diminished in force, was several 

 times plugged up by stercoraceous matters, which were from 

 time to time removed with a probe : at the last a few drops of 

 fluid came away. The belly appeared reduced to its natural 

 volume, and was quite flaccid after the operation. The 

 mare lay for nearly three hours without a struggle. Mr. 

 Stewart sat up with her, having resolved to puncture again 

 should it become necessary, and to introduce some hydro- 

 cyanic acid through the canula into the intestine. From 

 this time she continued going on well. On the third day 

 afterwards, however, she had a mild cathartic, and was then 

 dismissed to her own stable. — ['Veterinarian^ for 1836.] 



The mare continued doing well for ten or fourteen days. 

 After that time she ceased to improve, and the groom com- 

 plained she would not suffer pressure on the right flank. 

 When examined, tenderness thereabouts was very apparent ; 

 though there was neither heat nor swelling. Neither stimu- 

 lants nor a blister did any good. The mare remained thin and 

 weak, and dejected. There was some mischief going in the 

 right flank ; but whether from the trocar or gaseous disten- 

 sion, must be left to conjecture. From the beginning of her 

 illness the mare could not lie fipon her right side ; a fact 

 Mr. Stewart mentioned in recording the case. 



Mr. Stewart has made three other like experiments, from 

 which he appears to be borne out in drawing the following 

 inferences in regard to punction of the belly :— 



1st. That the operation oi paracentesis abdominis is not 

 likely to do any harm. 



2dly. That when the small intestines are the seat of tym- 

 pany, it is not likely to do any good. When much inflated, 

 the small intestines change their relative position, and the 

 gaseous pressure is such as to prevent an easy passage from 

 one convolution to another. It is thus that the trocar 

 empties only one convolution, and one convolution holds so 

 little that its evacuation can aftbvd no relief. — [' Veteri- 

 1839.] 



