OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 87 



which is vakiable in a case of pleuro-pneumonia. The short 

 point will not be so liable to puncture a solid lung (one such as 

 is characteristic of pneumonia). If the lung is not involved, it 

 will be floated so high in the thoracic cavity that it will be out 

 of the way of the trocar. In the majority of cases tap on the 

 right side between the eighth and ninth ribs. Give the animal 

 one-half pint of whiskey twenty minutes before beginning to 

 operate. This will prevent syncope. Never neglect this stimu- 

 lant. 



Push the fingers down deep between the eighth and ninth ribs 

 and in the pit that forms insert the scalpel, making an incision 

 three-fourths of an inch long. After cutting through the skin, 

 then go through the chest wall — go in slow. The incision should 

 be made close to the anterior border of the rib. Insert the trocar 

 and cannula and withdraw the trocar and the water begins to 

 flow out. While it is running, if the horse shows any resistance, 

 tighten the twitch on his nose — this is all the restraint that is 

 necessary. If the operation is done between the seventh and 

 eighth ribs, the elbow is apt to interfere, if the animal is in pain 

 and restless. Remove the twitch as soon as the flow is estab- 

 lished. If there is any coagulum in the fluid, keep the cannula 

 pervious with a small blunt instrument. The horse will improve 

 at once with this operation. 



If the cribriform openings of the mediastinum are plugged, 

 you may have to tap the other side. Wait a day or two before 

 performing a second operation. Do up the wound with a dry 

 dressing and keep on for a few days. 



In some cases you may have to tap again, but do not operate 

 in the same place; make a fresh opening. Never open up the 

 old sore. 



Prognosis. — This is according to the color of the serum; if 

 amber colored, it is favorable; if red, unfavorable. 



In case of a purulent liquid, clean out the chest cavity with 

 2-3 gallons of tincture of iodine — 1 per cent solution. Attach a 

 rubber hose to the cannula, and run the solution (temperature 

 102) into the chest from a fountain syringe. Hold there for 

 10-15 minutes and then let it run out again. In the human two 



