DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 196 



.Jangerous performances. He had had the best of us long enough, 

 and now it was for me to show what science had in store for such 

 otherwise unmanageable cases. I procured a mixture, composed 

 of four ounces of chloroform and the same quantity of sulphuric 

 ether; next, a sponge was tied to a broom-handle, and covered 

 with a towel. Thus we were enabled to chloroform him at a saffc 

 distance. 



The patient did not seem to relish this mode of practice. He 

 fought for some time, tried to strike and kick me, but, being tem- 

 porarily blind, I had the advantage of him. It was soon evident 

 that the chloroform was beginning to do its work. The patient 

 gradually settled himself on the floor, and Avas soon completely 

 etherized. As it is dangerous to keep a horse under the full effects 

 of chloroform any great length of time, I now removed the sponge, 

 and only applied it occasionally, slightly saturated, so as to insure 

 a sort of incomplete state of insensibility. It was an encouraging 

 sight to behold the once powerful and furious animal now lying 

 free from pain, and deprived of the power of injuring himself or 

 those in attendance ; and it is also gratifying to know that science 

 ministers to the wants and necessities of the inferior as well as the 

 superior orders of creation. 



At the expiration of an hour, during which time the animal 

 was more or less under the an£esthetic agent, he was allowed to 

 rise. He gave himself a few shakes, and seemed very much re- 

 lieved and more tranquil. I now gave a drench of spirits of niter 

 and infusion of lobelia; administered, also, a lobelia enema, and 

 left the patient to the care of his attendants. A few hours after- 

 ward I again visited the patient, and learned that he had a slight 

 spasa- occasionally, for which I prescribed two drachms of pow- 

 dered .assafetida. I then introduced the male catheter into the 

 bladdt'% drew off a small quantity of urine, and this completed 

 the while of the treatment. The patient recovered. 



Another case of Spasmodic Colic, treated by Inhalation. — The 

 subject 'v\as a large and powerful stallion, aged about eight years, 

 the prop( rt^' of a gentleman residing in Chicago. The horse way 

 attacked in the street with symptom? of acute abdominal pain, 

 and, in cjusequence, was hurried home to the stable. The mo- 

 ment he arrived there, he threw himself dDwn and commenced 

 rolling, and grew excessively uneasy and irritable. In the course 

 of an hour our attention was called to him. He *ben exhibited 



