iJ4 DADD'S VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY 



of the great value of the animal, and the desperate state of the 

 ease at the time it fell into my hands. It will also serve to in- 

 dorse the old aphorism that " where there is life there is hope." 

 Record, of the Case. — The patient was a Patchen colt, aged four 

 years, a very handsome and promising animal. He was pur- 

 chased by Mr. McPherson, of this city, for the sum of two 

 thousand dollars, and, at the time of his sickness, was considered 

 worth three thousand. But disease neither respects man nor 

 horse. Each have, once in awhile, to suffer and groan, swallow 

 drugs and get well, or die, as the case may be. And as regards 

 the horse, the more costly shall he be, the more likely is he to 

 get sick, from the fact that valuable horses are almost always 

 overfed and petted, and receive too much care and attention. On 

 arriving at the stable where the animal was located, I found him 

 in a dangerous condition. He appeared to be gasping for breath. 

 A loud stertorous noise, which could be heard at some distance, 

 indicated the nature of the difficulty as depending on obstruc- 

 tion within the larynx. The pulse at the angle of the jaw was 

 very indistinct. Both pupils of the eyes were dilated, or in a, 

 state of amaurosis. The extremities and external surface of the. 

 body were deathly cold. The tongue and visible mucous surfaces', 

 were livid, indicating speedy death. Once in awhile the animal 

 would be seized with a convulsive or spasmodic fit of coughing, 

 which, every time, seemed to threaten his life. In those fits of 

 coughing he passed from the nostrils a sort of cheesy matter, 

 which appeared to be mixed up with a diphtherial exudation — 

 yellow secretion and froth. Under the above circumstances, any 

 attempt to administer medicine was deemed unsafe. I there- 

 fore decided to perform the operation known as tracheotomy, 

 which was done, in the following manner : Having secured the 

 services of a couple of assistants, the horse was led to a conven- 

 ient spot in the center of the stable. An incision was then made 

 through the skin, to expose the trachea, about midway between 

 the jaws and breast-bone. The trachea was now punctured by 

 means of a pointed scalpel, and a probe-pointed bistoury was used 

 to dissect out a piece of the windpipe, corresponding to the size of 

 the tracheotomy tube. This tube, after being inserted into the 

 windpipe, was secured in place by means of elastic tape, which was 

 passed around the neck and tied. On the introduction of trie 

 tube the alarming symptoms immediately subsided, and th<> act 



