376 RUPTURE OF THE DIAPHRAGM, WITH THORACIC HERNIA. 
and the ee illegitimates” may soon be united in one common 
brotherhood, 
I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, 
John Barker, Y.S. 
Stokesley ; June 9, 1853. 
RUPTURE OF THE DIAPHRAGM, WITH THORACIC HERNIA. 
By Howell Craft, Kelvedon, Essex. 
Dear Sir, — I beg your acceptance of the following, 
should it prove in any way useful to the profession. 
On Thursday, 2d June, at 7 a.m., I was called to attend 
an aged and broken-winded horse, the property of Major 
Hamilton, holding a farm in this neighbourhood. It appears 
that the horse the day previous had been very much pushed 
in working a thrashing machine, until a late hour, after 
which, as usual, the horses were turned out for the night. 
On being taken the next morning to the stable to bait 
before commencing the day’s work, this animal evinced 
symptoms of colica spasmodica , and, in consequence, I was 
sent for. 
Symptoms . — Pulse 50, and soft ; legs and ears rather moist, 
as he sweated with the least exercise; respiration ac- 
celerated; mouth dry; conjunctiva slightly injected; eye full 
and staring ; the greatest difficulty experienced to keep him 
from lying down, and when allowed to do so, he would 
instantly turn on his back, and remain in that position for 
a considerable time — the yard being well littered with pea- 
haulm, very much assisting him in so doing. 
Diagnosis . — Considered it to be some extensive lesion, 
having had a similar case in hand about six months since, 
but without thoracic hernia. 
Treatment . — With the state of the pulse, and my patient 
not being in very plethoric condition, I did not at once 
bleed, but administered an antispasmodic draught, which 
I happened to have with me, from which he appeared con- 
siderably relieved. I then left him to return for an hour, 
living close at hand. On my return, I was informed that he 
expired a few minutes after I left the premises. 
Post-mortem . — All went on very well until the time arrived 
for removing the stomach, which I then missed ; so, directing 
the man who was assisting me to lift up the remainder of the 
intestine, I perceived a quantity of blood flowing along the 
spine, and, on further examination, found the diaphragm was 
