THE 
VETERINARIAN. 
VOL. XXIV, 
No. 284. 
AUGUST 1851. 
Third Series, 
No. 44. 
CASES FROM PRACTICE. 
By J. Gloag, V.S., 11th Hussars. 
Thoroughpin, treated by Acu-puncturation and 
Pressure. 
JULY 11 th, 1850, a chestnut mare, aged four years, ad- 
mitted with a large thoroughpin, off hock. This had existed 
four or five months, and seemed to be increasing in size. It 
was proposed to me that the hock should be extensively fired ; 
but, instead of so doing, the following plan of treatment was 
adopted : — 
I cut a slice, transversely, about half an inch in thickness, off 
a large bottle cork, and this was pierced by four common-sized 
darning needles, so that their points projected about half an 
inch from the surface. The cork was used in order to give the 
needles a firm position, and to admit of the distances of their 
projecting points being graduated according as required. I then 
plunged the needles into the enlarged sac, on each side, which 
was followed by a slight oozing of serous fluid. The hock was 
afterwards ordered to be well fomented. This treatment was 
daily repeated until the 
1 6th, when no particular change had occurred. The opera- 
tion was to be daily continued ; but, instead of fomenting after 
the puncturing, the parts were to be well smeared with an oint- 
ment composed of hydriodate of potass one part, mercurial oint- 
ment one part, blister ointment half part, and lard ten parts. 
25th . — The thoroughpin is evidently somewhat reduced. After 
each operation the swelling partly subsides, but subsequently 
fills again. The ointment is occasionally discontinued for a day. 
I was now resolved to try the effect of pressure. For this pur- 
pose I applied a spring-truss to the hock, upon the enlarged 
bursa, which was to be daily punctured, as before, with the 
application of the ointment as often as it could be safely used. 
After the first application of the truss, it was quite astonishing 
to observe the difference in the enlargement, which had become 
VOL. XXIV. 3 M 
