44 Method of stabbing Hoven Cattle. 



am of opinion, that flexible tubes maybe forced down 

 the passage which conducts to the lungs, by which most 

 dangerous consequences would ensue. An instance of 

 this kind occurred last year in this neighbourhood, 

 when intending to force the passage of the paunch, and 

 occasioned the loss of the animal. ' ' 



Neither the farmer or baihft' can be expected when 

 going the rounds of the farm, to carry with him at all 

 times an instrument so large as one of the flexible tubes ; 

 even if he had it, he could not make use of it without 

 the assistance of a second person, and the disorder 

 would be fatal in most instances before such assistance 

 could be procured. 



I considered that the trocar and canula commonly 

 used by surgeons, might be employed to advantage for 

 the relief of hoven cattle. I have employed the instru- 

 ment to answer better the purpose here intended of pe- 

 netrating the tense hides of cattle ; and such alteration 

 materially facilitates the operation. 



The method of applying it is, to penetrate with the 

 trocar and canula through the hide of the beast to the 

 paunch on the near side, about six inches^ from the back 

 bone, at an equal distance from the last rib, and from 

 the hip bone : then to withdraw the trocar, and to leave 

 the canula in the wound until the air which the paunch 

 contained has escaped. The canula may then be taken 

 out, and the wound covered with a plaister of common 



* A member fomid that six inches was too small a dis- 

 tance, as the kidney of a cow was injured when stabbed at 

 that distance from the back bone by a knife. J. M. 



