518 OBSERVATIONS ON METEORISATION IN THE HORSE. 
OBSERVATIONS ON METEORISATION IN THE HORSE. 
Puncture of the Caecum. — Cure. 
A light harness gelding, 7 years old, after having eaten 
a good allowance of oats and bran, was employed to draw a 
load of dung from Paris to Creteil. He had no sooner 
arrived when he was attacked with violent colics ; his belly 
became rapidly blown out, when, in consequence of suf- 
focation being threatened, the carter immediately brought 
him to the veterinary school. 
On his arrival his respiration was highly accelerated ; 
nostrils dilated, countenance anxious; flank so blown out 
that the process of the ileum is almost effaced ; pulse very small, 
quick, and wiry ; &c. Rectal exploration discovered that the 
large intestines contained but little solid matter, but w r ere 
mostly distended with gas. From time to time the animal 
made violent expulsive efforts, and when left to himself he 
lies down and rolls, &c. 
Diagnostic. — Meteorisation consecutive on indigestion. 
Prescription. — V.S.; continual walking exercise; simple 
clysters; drink of assafcetida 15 grammes (about 9iv), with a 
like quantity of camphor. No relief being afforded in an 
hour afterwards, a drink of aloetic oil, composed of a pint and 
a half of oil with 10 grammes (about 3 j) of Barbadoes aloes. 
Two hours after the administration of this drink there had 
been no evacuation of either solid or gaseous matter from the 
anus. The pulse had become small and depressed ; the skin 
cold ; the respiration anxious, sighing, and short. Asphyxia 
threatening, the indication is, if we would prevent it, and so 
save the animal, we must do something instantly. Puncture 
of the caecum was determined on. 
The skin was penetrated with a sharp straight bistoury at 
the most salient part in the flank, about the middle of an 
imaginary straight line extended horizontally from the angle 
of the ileum to the last rib, and, for want of a larger trocar, we 
made use of one of Guerin^s, which are used for injections into 
the joints. This instrument was plunged perpendicularly, 
with one thrust through the muscular parietes of the abdo- 
men so as to penetrate the arch of the caecum, v T hich it did with 
facility, the resistance of the skin having been previously 
surmounted by the incision made by the bistoury. The 
stillette w r as no sooner withdrawn from the w r ound than the 
gas made an impetuous eruption to escape, followed by frothy 
matters, and spreading around an empyreumatic vegetable 
odour. 
