132 DISEASES OF THE HOBSE. 



when the symptoms are urgent it is recommended that the air be 

 removed by a trocar and cannula or by an aspirator. 



It is evident that the treatment of wounds that penetrate the tho- 

 racic cavity should be prompt. It should be quickly ascertained 

 whether or not a foreign body remains in the wound ; then it should be 

 thoroughly cleaned with a solution of carbolic acid, 1 part in 40 parts 

 of water. The wound should then be closed immediately. If it is an 

 incised wound, it should be closed with sutures or with adhesive plas- 

 ters ; if torn or lacerated, adhesive plaster may be used or a bandage 

 around the chest over the dressing. At all events, air must be pre- 

 vented from getting into the chest as soon and as effectually as pos- 

 sible. The after treatment of the wound should consist principally in 

 beeping the parts clean with a solution of carbolic acid, and applying 

 fresh dressing as often as required to keep the wound in a healthy 

 condition. Care should be taken that the discharges from the wound 

 have an outlet in the most dependent part. (See Wounds and their 

 treatment, p. 484.) If pleurisy supervenes, it should be treated as 

 advised under that head. 



THUMPS, OR SPASM OF THE DIAPHRAGM. 



" Thumps " is generally thought by the inexperienced to be a pal- 

 pitation of the heart. While it is true that palpitation of the heart 

 is sometimes called "thumps," it must not be confounded with the 

 affection under consideration. 



In the beginning of this article on the diseases of the organs of 

 respiration, the diaphragm was briefly referred to as the principal 

 and essential muscle of respiration. Spasmodic or irregular con- 

 tractions of it in man are manifested by what is familiarly known 

 as hiccoug:lis. Thumps in the horse is similar to hiccoughs in man, 

 although in all cases the peculiar noise is not made in the throat 

 of the horse. 



There should be no difficulty in distinguishing this affection from 

 palpitation of the heart. The jerky motion affects the whole body 

 and IS not confined to the region of the heart. If one hand is placed 

 on the body at about the middle of the last rib, while the other hand 

 KS placed over the heart behind the left elbow, it will be easily demon- 

 strated that there is no connection between the thumping or jerking 

 of the diaphragm and the beating of the heart. In fact when the 

 animal is affected with spasms of the diaphragm the beating of the 

 heart is usually much weaker and less perceptible than natural 

 Thumps IS produced by causes similar to those that produce con- 

 gestion of the lungs and dilatation or palpitation of the heart and 

 may occur in connection with these conditions. If not relieved 

 death usually results from congestion or edema of the lungs as 



