436 VARIX. 



longer was soft and fluctuating, but tense and solid, though on deep 

 pressure slightly elastic. Confident of the accuracy of the former 

 diagnosis, taking into account the fact that the animal had now be- 

 come useless, he was cast, and two strong steel pins, at an interval of 

 three inches, were passed under the saphena-vein, the lowest pin 

 about a hand's breadth above the tumour. Over and across each pin 

 a piece of elastic bougie, the size of an ordinary lead pencil, was firmly 

 secured by a few figure-of-8 turns of twine. An exploratory trocar 

 puncture into the lower part of the tumour merely gave exit to a few 

 drops of bloody serosity. On making an incision with a scalpel to the 

 extent of three or four inches in the long axis of enlargement, its 

 thickened and almost cartilaginous walls proved to be the boundaries 

 of a series of pouches full of clotted blood. Nearly two pints were 

 evacuated, but the remainder was so solid as to defy removal except by 

 an extensive dissection not deemed warrantable. No escape of arterial 

 or fresh venous blood. The edges of the integumental wound, in its 

 upper two-thirds, were approximated with the aid of a couple of pins 

 and figure-of-8 ligature, leaving a good aperture below, and the horse 

 was allowed to rise. 



" The following notes record the progress of the case: 



" May 26th. Apparently very little general disturbance. Eats and lies 

 down. Pulse 44. The sac distended to its fullest extent in consequence 

 of tumefaction. Very little sero-sanguineous fluid has drained away 

 during the night. No swelling from the needles under the vein above 

 the hock. Cold water dressing and an aperient. 



" 27th. Symptoms the same as yesterday. Flexes the hock as well 

 as he did before the operation. No change in treatment. 



" 28th. As yesterday. 



" 29th. 8 A.M. Going on well. Still flexes the hock. Pulse 60. 



" 7 P.M. Tumefaction of the leg and thigh has commenced. Pulse 

 80 and full ; dyspnoea. Fomentations to be applied without inter- 

 mission. 



" 10 P.M. Symptoms aggravated. Vesicles forming over the swollen 

 Dart in several places, and discharging serum. 



" 30th. 5 A.M. Symptoms of general disturbance increased in inten- 

 sity. Pulse imperceptible. Dyspnoea more decided. Leg and thigh 

 much swelled; the vesicles have broken, and many small wounds over 

 the seat of disease, both within and outside the hock, yield copious 

 sero-purulent discharge. 



