30 
CRIMEAN REMINISCENCES. 
At first a little anxious excitement, with respiration dimin- 
ished, both in frequency and power, was evinced, followed 
by a gradual relaxation of the muscular system, and a 
growing insensibility to touch, as also of the eye to light, 
with a slightly stertorous breathing ; and our patient was 
in a state of anaesthesia. Here, of course, the adminis- 
tration ceased. Having proceeded to make an incision in 
the skin covering the tumour, our patient slightly quivered ; 
another inhalation, however, soon again brought him under 
the influence of the chloroform, and the operation, which 
otherwise would have been exceedingly troublesome to per- 
form, was resumed. The incisions were made so as to permit 
the preservation of the skin as much as possible, by dissecting 
out the tumour from its intimate association with it. This 
at first we feared we should not succeed in doing ; but our 
precautions were rewarded by the result. Having turned back 
the flaps, and passed a seton through the tumour so as to 
elevate it, we proceeded with the dissection, tying the vessels 
as we came to them. We found, as is usual with tumours 
of this character, an artery and a vein at the bottom of it, in 
almost the central point of its attachment. Its removal was, 
therefore, unavoidably attended with considerable hemor- 
rhage, from an infinity of small vessels too minute to tie. This 
bleeding was checked with cold water. It was with difficulty 
that the sheath was saved ; and was accomplished by an arm 
being passed down it, and the dissection continued around 
it. The tumour being removed, the divided parts were 
brought together by means of sutures, having a deep hold ; 
and a dependent orifice was left, so as to allow of the escape 
of the suppurative secretion, which was excited by means of 
stimulants, and a very favorable termination was obtained 
in a few weeks, by the animal’s recovering so as to resume 
his duties with comfort to himself and advantage to the 
public service. 
The tumour, when removed, we judged to weigh about 
seven pounds. At the conclusion of the operation, which 
occupied only eighteen minutes from casting to its termina- 
tion, on the hobbles being removed, our patient lay as if 
still under restraint; and would probably have remained 
longer in this insensible state, for I had even turned him over 
after freeing him from the hobbles, had I not applied some 
spirit of ammonia to his nostrils. The effect of the stimulant 
was instantaneous, and he rose to his feet at once. The 
whole quantity of chloroform used did not exceed two ounces 
and a half. 
I am of opinion— and I judge not from this case only — 
