260 
PYAEMIA AND EMBOLISM. 
horse that had since yesterday been unable to rise, and 
appeared as if he was going to die.” Fulfilling the injunc- 
tion of this problematic message, I rode over next morning, 
taking with me my dissecting-case, to ascertain the cause of 
death, deeming it useless to provide myself with any medi- 
cine for a horse which was “ going to die,” more especially 
as neither symptom nor history had been given whereby to 
indicate the nature of the affection. 
On my arrival I found the animal still alive, but lying 
prostrate on its right side. The breathing was slow ; pulse 
almost imperceptible ; mucous membranes pale and blanched ; 
extremities cold, more especially the left hind one, which 
was also slightly swollen, as was also the sheath. The skin 
was hard, having a great tendency for sticking to the bones and 
tissues underneath. It was swarming with insects of the 
genus Trichodectes, thus making the application of the ear 
to the side rather an unpleasant act. 
The animal’s head was outstretched, and he continued to 
mumble a hit of hay or carrot when put into his mouth, but 
was almost unable to swallow it. The breath very fetid. 
The faeces and urine were said to he normal. Auscultation 
indicated extensive disorganization of the inferior and poste- 
rior part of left lung. On placing my ear behind the shoulder, 
below the median line, a cavernous sound was audible. Per- 
cussion gave a dull sound in the postero-inferior part of the 
chest, while below the median line, and about from the ninth 
to the thirteenth rib the resonance was so considerable as to 
indicate the existence of a complete void, or the absence of 
any lung substance whatever. He did not cough while 
lying, but a slight pinch of the larynx produced a low, soft, 
sepulchral noise, accompanied with the ejection through the 
nostrils of a quantity of fetid, flaky pus and mucus. 
Owing to his extreme leanness the beat of the heart was 
distintly heard, weak, but irregular ; the impulse against the 
side of the chest was considerable, and a blowing noise fol- 
lowed the second sound. The horse being lifted up manifested 
considerable dyspnoea, which soon, however, wore off, and 
the animal began to take food. He could only stand with 
difficulty, and had to be supported while I examined the 
right lung, which was also evidently diseased, but not to the 
same extent as the other. 
History . — About four months ago the animal had an attack 
of strangles, the abscess matured slowly, and bursted in the 
usual place. No notice was taken of his illness. He con- 
tinued to do very badly, but, nevertheless, was kept in the 
crewe-yard,” on little more than wheat-straw and water. As 
