132 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 
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 i in 
keeping 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 hiccoughs. 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 
_ is 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 
