196 DADD'S VETKRINARY MEDICINE AND SURGEKF. 



Bymjtoms of acute abdominal pain. The eyes appeared wild, and 

 their membranes congested ; the nostrils were dilated ; pulse, about 

 sixty ; extremities cold ; body, bedewed with perspiration ; no tym- 

 panitis, yet the animal anxiously regarded his flanks. He would 

 paw with his fore-feet, and strike forward in a most reckless man 

 ner, and fall down, as if in convulsions; then he would roll en 

 his back, curve his head to one side, and, as quick as thought, 

 jump up again. 



He was now so spiteful and unmanageable that it was impos- 

 sible to administer either drench or ball. We tried every means 

 to get something down, but all to no purpose; he was determ- 

 ined to make us keep beyond the reach of his fore-feet and 

 mouth. It now became evident to us that the patient must be 

 mastered, and, in this view, not knowing at the time that th<« 

 agent we were about to use would act beneficially on the disease, 

 we procured three ounces of chloroform, and the same quantity 

 of sulphuric ether. An old sheet and a sponge were used as an 

 inhaler. Watching an opportunity, when the horse was down, 

 we got two men to secure him there by the neck. We then sat- 

 urated the sponge with the mixture, and applied the same to the. 

 nostrils, enveloping them with the folded sheet, leaving an orifico 

 for the admission of air. The patient struggled violently at first, 

 but soon became quieter, and, in the course ot two minutes, trem- 

 bled, breathed deep and loud. The pupils then became dilated, 

 the breathing stertorous, and the animal was fully etherized. 

 Having him completely under control, we were not disposed to let 

 him up in a hurry. The sponge, however, was removed, and so 

 soon as he showed signs of partial consciousness, it was again re- 

 plenished with ether, and applied. 



Supposing that the case might be running on to intussusception, 

 or entanglement of the bowels, we thought there could be no harm 

 in keeping the animal under the influence of an agent that seemed 

 t'l a^t so well ; consequently he was kept under its influence for 

 fifty-fivt minutes. His head was then brought toward the door, 

 And c few drops of cold water were sprinkled on him. Soon he 

 raised his head, looked bewildered, yet showed no symptoms of 

 pain nor uneasiness. Shortly afterward he got on his legs, but 

 had to be supported by several men, who soon rubbed him dry. 

 He was then drenched with laudanum, five drachms ; sweet spirits 

 of niter, one our ^. He was led to a stall, entirely free from paiD 



