KUTTURES. 151 



bowels, and then sow up the opening after paring the edges in 

 order to effect a union. But no sooner was the sac opened than 

 the struggles of the dog forced almost all the intestines out, and 

 as fast as they were replaced they protruded again. My only course 

 was to bleed him till he fainted, which I did the action of chloro- 

 form not having then been discovered and then I easily effected 

 my object, and the case ultimately did well ; but the dog never 

 recovered his powers, in consequence of the loss of blood, and, 

 though apparently in health, was utterly useless. I have 

 repeatedly tried to cure rupture by the ligature, but have not yet 

 succeeded, in consequence, apparently, of the delicate structure of 

 the tendons around the opening. These are not thick enough to 

 allow of a thread being passed in and out, as in the case above 

 mentioned, and if the opposite edges only are 'pierced and tied 

 together, an adhesion may be effected, but, like the tinker, in 

 mending one hole another is made. It is possible that if a 

 pointed compress could be confined on the outside of the rupture, 

 it would, as in the human subject, effect a cure; but as long as 

 the puppy is with its mother no such application would be 

 allowed by her to remain, and after it is weaned its own teeth 

 would soon remove it. I am afraid, therefore, that there is no 

 hope of curing ruptures in the greyhound ; but fortunately it 

 happens that they are seldom injurious, either to the health or 

 running powers of the greyhound. Indeed, it is only when very 

 large that they are of the slightest inconvenience. 



