THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 45 



made in the dura mater, or outer membrane of the brain, which 

 was immediately followed by a considerable effusion of blood. 

 In about ten minutes after the operation, the horse got up, and 

 being led to his stall, began to feed immediately. He continued 

 apparently well for several days, but died a fortnight after the 

 operation." * 



Tracheotomy, which consists in making an incision into the 

 trachasa, and then introducing a hollow tube for the animal to 

 breathe through, has received the advocacy of some. On p. 

 26, Hippopathology, the following paragraph occurs : " Trache- 

 otomy. On no animal is this operation practised with more 

 facility than on the horse ; neither are the consequences of it 

 such — though it may, now and then, leave the animal a roarer — 

 as to deter us from practising it in any case in which important 

 benefit is likely to accrue from it. Dr. Physic, of Philadelphia, 

 first suggested its performance in hydrophobia ; and Dr. Marshall 

 Hall has recently advised a trial of it in cases of apoplexy. His 

 words are, ' In apoplexy from congestion, I am persuaded that 

 the fatal event might be averted by the timely adoption of 

 this measure ; the patient dies of asphyxia, — (cessation of the 

 pulse,) — and of an asphyxia which tracheotomy would, I believe, 

 jirevent.' " 



The author has no faith in the trephine for the cure of con- 

 gestion, although it might give temporary relief, as in the above 

 case. The instrument has been called into requisition in cases 

 of compression of the brain, from fracture of the skull, and with 

 decided benefit to the patient ; but in apoplexy the case is far 

 different ; the blood is loaded with carbon, the respiratory organs 

 are unable to imbibe a sufficiency of oxygen to decarbonize it, 

 and therefore if we were to remove the whole of the skull by 

 trephine, we should be just as far off as ever in unloading the 

 vital current of its defiling burden. There is no way, that the 

 author knows of, by which the blood can be vitalized, other than 

 that which takes place in the lungs through the admission of 

 oxygen ; therefore tracheotomy, which provides for a due supply 

 to the lungs of pure air, holds out more certain advantages 

 than the former operation. 



* "White's Dictionary. 



