120 THE NATURE AND TREATMENT OF 



author, for introducing such an apparently vulgar term as the 

 above ; but the fact is, this term has a meaning ; perhaps 

 better understood than any other that can be introduced at the 

 present time. 



It would appear that ^* gut-tie^* is often occasioned by a 

 faulty method of castration, this is the testimony of experts ; 

 but it is my opinion, that gut-tie, often occurs more accidentally 

 than otherwise ; for animals have been known to die of gut-tie, 

 after being castrated in the best possible manner. I once 

 operated on an animal for this mechanical trouble, and am 

 satisfied that the castrator was as well qualified to perform the 

 operation, as the best of the craft ; yet, the cord had retracted 

 into the abdomen, formed a false tissue and had also a large 

 bulbous extremity, which no skill nor foresight could have pos- 

 sibly guarded against. The animal operated on, presented 

 the following symptoms : Pulse small and quick ; respira- 

 tions hurried ; animal very uneasy (all the time), down and up 

 again very often ; rectum empty, yet coated with slime ; the, 

 patient refused both food and water, and had not ruminated 

 nor passed any faeces, for several hours. I proposed an oper- 

 ation with the intention of exploring the abdominal cavity, to 

 which the owner consented. The patient was cast on the near 

 or left side, and etherized ; an incision five inches in length was 

 then made through the integuments of the right flank, midway 

 between the last rib and anterior part of the ilium, about 

 three inches below the transverse spines of the lumbar verte- 

 brae ; the muscles and peritoneum were also divided in the 

 same manner as when spaying a cow. After introducing my 

 hand I found a portion of intestine incarcerated by the re- 

 mains of the spermatic cord, which seemed, together with some 

 false membrane, to have entangled the intestine ; after liberating 

 the latter, the divided muscles were closed by suture, one end of 

 which was left long enough to hang out of the wound ; the integ- 

 uments were then sutured, and dressed with tincture of aloes. 



The patient staggered a little when he got up, but soon com- 

 menced eating. I did not see him afterwards, but a fortnight 



