PROLAPSUS ANI. 
659 
fomentation, medicated or not, with scarification of the exposed 
membrane ; though in other cases, astringent applications are 
employed, with a view of causing contraction and diminution 
of the mass, such as lime water, decoction of oak bark, solu- 
tion of alum, &c.; and while such proceedings are going on, 
it is advisable to have the hind parts raised. Supposing we 
succeed in accomplishing the reduction, the chances are in 
favour of a relapse of the prolapsus , and these chances seem 
great in proportion to the facility with which the return of the 
inverted gut has been effected: indeed, so constant and trouble- 
some does the return in some of these cases become, that it is 
necessary to contrive some sort of truss to oppose the descent, 
the same as is done for rupture in man. Mr. Dycer’s truss 
consisted of ee a new wet chamois leather, a.breast-plate, and a 
hip (human) truss.” Should constipation be thought to 
operate against reduction, in addition to casters, we may 
exhibit cathartics and aloes in solution, and should there be 
plethora and great irritability in the membrane of the rectum 
and anus, a bloodletting will be advisable ; while an opiate 
or belladonna clyster will be advantageously administered in 
order to allay all local irritation as much as possible. 
As A DERNIER AND EFFECTIVE MODE OF PROCEDURE 
in prolapsus ani, when the case proves either irreducible or, 
after return, continually protrudes, on any slight effort, such 
as coughing, afresh, we have recourse with safety and 
certainty to an operation consisting in excision of more or 
less of the inverted membrane enveloping the protruding 
portion of gut. This is an operation of ancient date, though 
to Dupuytren is ascribed the credit of introducing it into 
human practice, and to the French veterinarians that of 
transplanting the same into veterinary practice. Formerly, 
the actual cautery was the instrument employed for the 
removal of the parts obstructing reduction ; but in our own 
day this has been thrown aside for the scalpel, an instrument 
quite as effective, while the simple act of cutting with a 
knife gives so much less pain than cutting or dividing 
with the actual cautery. In general, it is considered ne- 
cessary to cast the horse for the operation ; but Mr. Gregory, 
V. S., Bideford, did not cast his patient, but (C merely 
put on a side-line, and had one leg held up, and the 
tail kept on one side and most assuredly the standing 
position of the patient is one which, in such an operation, 
offers no mean advantages to the operator, providing he 
can avail himself of it without any personal danger. A 
great preservation against refractoriness in an operation of 
the kind, at the moment when any pain is felt, is a twitch 
