VENTRAL HEKNIA. 403 



hernial sac, measuring ten inches in length and seven inches in breadth, 

 and protruding to the extent of four inches. The horse being perfectly 

 healthy, his owner would not consent to any operation ; until, one day, 

 symptoms of strangulation being apparent, he grew frightened, and gave the 

 case up to Mr. Horsburgh. Of the symptoms of strangulation he recovered; 

 and therefore Mr. Horsburgh, having duly prepared him by physic and regi- 

 men, put in practice the operation he had at first proposed. Both the abdo- 

 men and hernia became considerably reduced by the physic and regimen, 

 which latter consisted in nothing else but as much boiled barley as Mr. Hors- 

 burgh thought would keep life in him. He first fired the tumour through 

 its whole extent, in lines about an inch apart, and pretty deep, and then 

 applied a strong blister, continuing the same restricted regimen until the 

 wound was healed. It was then a little larger than a person's hand. Mr. 

 Horsburgh repeated the firing and blistering. The result fully answered his 

 expectations. The horse has stood the test of two years' work, and only 

 on minute inspection can the lines of firing be seen. The object of 

 the operation was to excite such an inflammation as would extend to the 

 inner parts, and cause adhesion of the intestine, and so prevent its pro- 

 trusion through the aperture. 



A CASE OF Ventral Artificial Anus was, in 1837, sent 

 to ^The Veterinarian^ by Mr. Karkeek, V.S., Truro, which, 

 although of chronic character, from the summary manner 

 in which it was cured and disposed of, cannot fail to prove 

 to us highly interesting. 



''Two years since a pony mare received an injury from the horn of a 

 bullock on that portion of the abdomen situated between the cartilages 

 of the false ribs, inclining a little to the left side, producing a ventral 

 hernia about the size of a cricket ball." From a kick received upon the 

 same place from the toe of the shoe of a boy, very serious injury re- 

 sulted, which terminated in an opening through the lacerated muscles 

 into the colon itself; "being that portion of its second flexure which 

 forms the upper and anterior arch, and the liquid and pulpy contents 

 soon issued freely from the aperture. The mare continued for three 

 weeks in this state, when I was requested to examine her — about the 6th 

 of January. I found the opening nearly large enough to admit my four 

 fingers, and it had a very unhealthy appearance. The discharge of 

 pulpy and watery food was great, and the smell very offensive, so much 

 so, that it was with difficulty any person could be found to attend on her. 

 The pulse was between 50 and 60, and the appetite tolerably good." — 

 The mare being with foal, and an old favorite besides, her owner was 

 very desirous to have something done. There were two favorable cir- 

 cumstances — the length of time since the injury and the absence of in- 



