OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 133 



radical operation, but with horses it seems quite necessary. Keep 

 the trocar with you all the time. Keep it well cleaned. Boil it 

 after each operation. 



We usually tap on the right side for that is the most promi- 

 nent point of the distension. Clip the hair ofif from a small 

 place, scratch it with the finger nail and then wash the part with 

 an antiseptic solution. Make a puncture about 5-8 to 1-2 inch 

 deep and then insert the trocar downward, inward and forward, 

 at least six inches, especially in a fat horse. If you strike the 

 bowel, gas will escape. We find two kinds of gas in these cases, 

 sulphuretted hydrogen and carbon-dioxide. The first is the one 

 usually found. Touch a match to the escaping gas and it wall 

 burn w^ith a blue flame, if it is hydrogen gas, but if it is carbon- 

 dioxide the flame will be put out. If the force is great, it may 

 make a flame a yard long. Just as soon as all the gas has es- 

 caped, reinsert the trocar into the cannula and pull the two out 

 together slowly. This will prevent the fecal matter from coming 

 out into the peritoneal cavity. Put some vaseline on the opening 

 to keep the dirt out. If possible keep the horse standing during 

 the operation. Occasionally he will lie down and you cannot get 

 him up. Tap on the right side if possible, but either side will do. 



After the gas has escaped the horse can get up. Then dose 

 him. The best remedy we have is turpentine. It is quick to 

 act — it will act in ten minutes. No other drug will act so quickly. 

 In addition to the turpentine it is a good plan to give a liberal 

 dose of theosulphate of sodium — 4-6 ounces. After the flatu- 

 lence has been relieved, give an injection of soap and water. In 

 case of considerable pain, give an anodyne; the best one is prob- 

 ably chloral hydrate. Give a 1200-lb. horse about two ounces, 

 either in a capsule or in tissue paper. Give liberal doses of lin- 

 seed oil. 



Occasionally when tapping a horse a stream of blood will 

 come out through the cannula, but I have never known this to be 

 serious. In case you do not get the gas the first time you insert 

 the trocar, keep on trying until you do strike the bowel, always 

 inserting it in a new place each time. In searching in this way 

 for the bowel do not pull the trocar out through the skin, but to 

 it only, then change the direction a little and push it forcibly 



