FRACTURE OF THE OS HYOIDES. 
667 
matter. I heard nothing more of the colt until August, when 
he was sent to me to do as I liked with. The hernia now put 
on a frightful appearance, the sac extending nearly as low as 
the hocks : the rapid increase of size I attributed to the work 
he had been doing in the mean time. I was now very 
cautious, having ascertained that (previous to the present 
owner buying him) every veterinary surgeon and contractor 
that had seen him had refused to have anything to do with 
the case ; but having in the first instance said an operation 
was admissible, I resolved upon performing it. The colt was 
cast and placed on his back, the covered operation being 
performed in the usual way; but instead of taking off the 
clams on the third day, they were allowed to remain on until 
they sloughed off. (I will here state that, on opening the 
scrotal cavity in the right side, about two pints and a half of 
serous fluid escaped.) 
The after-treatment consisted in a mild dose of physic, 
short commons, with the occasional administration of diure- 
tics, and frequent scarifications to abate the swelling, which 
was alarming for some considerable time, the wounds being 
well cleansed every morning. I experienced considerable 
difficulty in getting a healthy action in the wound on the 
right side, which ultimately was accomplished, and the animal 
is now perfectly recovered, and at work with a scrotum of 
an ordinary size. 
I believe it to be the prevailing opinion, that hydrocele 
does not exist in the horse but in connection with ascites ; 
here is an instance of that disease (if not pure) at any rate 
not in any way associated with ascites, as not the slightest 
symptom of that affection was present. 
FRACTURE OF THE OS HYOIDES. 
By M. Heraud, M.R.C.V.S., Caine, Wilts. 
Sir, — I enclose you a portion of a fractured os hyoides ; 
and, as I never remember hearing of such a case, I think the 
particulars of the present one may perhaps interest your 
readers. They are these : 
On Friday, the 4th of November, I was sent for to 
attend to a colt belonging to Messrs. Maundrell, of Cal- 
stone Farm, near Caine, whose head they said had been 
swelling all day. Being out on my rounds I did not arrive 
there till about 5 p.m. I found the animal to be a very fine 
