134 THEORY AND PRACTICE 



down again. Sometimes the owner will not let you tap his horse, 

 which may be an especially valuable one. Assure him that the 

 operation is a perfectly safe one — that it is absolutely harmless. 

 If he still refuses, you can resort to eserin or arecolin, which 

 should be given hypodermically. When using these violent rem- 

 edies, give the animal an anodyne so as to blunt the sensibilities ; 

 for these drugs will increase the pain. In a moderately bad case, 

 give the eserin, or arecolin, or barium chloride — one dram in a 

 pint of water by the mouth. 



There is little use to give injections while the abdomen is dis- 

 tended. Bear in mind that getting the gas out does not cure the 

 trouble; this does not remove the cause. You must introduce 

 an anti-ferment through the mouth. 



In tapping for this trouble there are only two organs to avoid, 

 the bladder and the kidney. If you puncture straight down, 

 you are likely to strike the bladder. Tap downward, inward 

 and forward and you will go in front of the bladder. To avoid 

 the kidney dip downward. 



Some unfavorable results occur from tapping. These may be 

 enumerated as follows : Peritonitis ; tetanus ; abscess ; intestinal 

 fistula. Peritonitis and tetanus do not occur very often, tetanus 

 probably the more frequently of the two. The germ producing 

 it is introduced with the trocar. Peritoneal abscess is the most 

 common result. It is located between the parietal peritoneum 

 and the skin. This abscess is very serious if neglected. The pus 

 that forms in it will extend to the flank and break out there. 

 If this occurs, open the abscess and let out the pus, then syringe 

 it out thoroughly, and it will heal very soon. This condition is 

 no reflection upon the doctor, such abscesses will occur in spite 

 of good technique in operating. Exercise all possible precaution 

 against dirt to reduce the danger. Sometimes you will get a 

 mesenteric abscess on the inside. The resisting power of horses 

 is strong except in the peritoneum. In case of intestinal fistula, 

 there is a chronic discharge from the bowel through the punc- 

 ture. The liquid portion of the bowel contents comes out through 

 the puncture and it does not take long for this to become a fistula. 

 The best treatment is to cauterize it. Inject into the opening a 

 solution of sulphate of copper the strength of an ounce to a pint 



