137 



the same condition. In such cases the air is generally absorbed, and 

 a spontaneous cure is the result. But when the symptoms are urgent 

 it is recommended that the air be removed by a trocar and canula or 

 by an asj)irator. 



The treatment of wounds that penetrate the thoracic cavity should, 

 for the foregoing reason, be prompt. It should be quickly ascertained 

 whether or not a foreign body remains in the wound, then it should 

 be thoroughly cleaned with a solution of carbolic acid one part in water 

 forty parts. The Avound should then be closed immediately. If it is 

 an incised wound it should be closed with sutures; if torn or lacerated, 

 a bandage around the chest over the dressing is the best plan. At all 

 events, air must be prevented from getting into the chest, as soon and 

 as effectually as possible. The after treatment of the wound should 

 principalh^ consivSt in keeijing the parts clean with the solution of car- 

 bolic acid, and applying fresh dressing as often as required to keep 

 the wound in a healthy condition. Care should be taken that the dis- 

 charges from the vround have an outlet in the most dependent part. 

 (See Wounds.) If the wound causes much pain it should be allayed 

 with a dose of tincture of opium in raw linseed oil, as advised in the 

 treatment of pleurisy. If pleurisy supervenes, it should be treated as 

 advised under that head. 



THUMPS — SPASM OF THE DIAPHRAGM. 



"Thumps" is generally thought to be, b}^ the inexperienced, a pal- 

 pitation of the heart. While it is true that palpitation of the heart 

 is sometimes called "thumps," it must not be confounded with the 

 affection under consideration. 



In the beginning of this article on the diseases of the organs of res- 

 piration the diaphragm was briefly referred to as the principal and 

 essential muscle of respiration. Spasmodic or irregular contractions 

 of it in man are manifested by what is familiarly known as hiccoughs. 

 Thumps in the horse is identical with hiccoughs in man, although the 

 peculiar noise is not made in the throat of the horse in all cases. 



There should be no difficult}' in distinguishing this affection from 

 palpitation of the heart. The jerky motion affects the Avhole body, 

 and is not confined to the region of the heart. If one hand is placed 

 on the body at about the middle of the last rib, while the other hand 

 is placed over the heart behind the left elbow, it will be easily demon- 

 strated that there is no connection between the thumping or jerking 

 of the diaiihragm and the beating of the heart. If the ear is placed 

 against the body it will be discovered that the sound is made posterior 

 to the region of the heart. In fact, when the animal is affected with 

 spasms of the diaphragm the beating of the heart is usually much 

 weaker and less perceptible than natural. Thumps is produced by 

 the same causes which produce congestion of the lungs, and is often 

 oDGl— HOP 5* 



