386 
TRACHEAL POLYPI. 
as if the tube was contracted upon itself], or some obstacle 
existed somewhere from this part up to the larynx ; a dry, 
acute rale being heard, such as might be produced by 
blowing through a small paper tube. Nothing could be dis- 
covered by direct exploration of the upper part of the larynx 
and fauces ; but on manipulation of the trachea, at the part 
where the sound became magnified, there could be detected ex- 
ternally a thickening of the tube and of the textures around 
it ; and the skin upon it appeared as if it had been contused 
some long time before. If pressure was made by the fingers, 
though ever so slight, either upon or around this enlarge- 
ment, the horse flew back, and appeared for some minutes as 
if in great agony. Nothing else being noticed then, I came 
to the conclusion that some of the cartilaginous rings were 
fractured or displaced, and that all treatment was useless, 
especially as the horse was so light in carcase that he would 
be of no utility in a corps where strength is so much 
required for draught, and I had him accordingly put into the 
sick stable until an opportunity should present itself for 
having him cast. In consequence of the pain he experienced 
when taken out of the stable, I ordered him to be always 
kept in, not even allowing him to be led out to water. He 
fed and rested well, acquired fat rapidly, and, except in his 
breathing, appeared a perfect type of good health. 
On the morning of the 13th of April, however, by some 
mistake on the part of the stable orderly, he was sent to the 
water trough, about 500 yards off, and on the way he began 
to jump about in a lively manner, when all at once he gave 
three or four violent coughs, stood still, and then commenced 
breathing in a most distressing way. 
He was instantly taken back to the stable, and I was 
sent for. 
On my arrival I found him in a dying state, with bright- 
red arterial frothy blood flowing from his nostrils and mouth 
at every gasp for breath, which act was attempted and accom- 
panied with a sort of scream, protrusion of the tongue, and 
the eyes apparently starting from their sockets. Every 
muscle of respiration appeared to be strained to the utmost, 
and each inspiratory or expiratory effort seemed only to 
increase the paroxysms, until the whole body was in a profuse 
perspiration. 
Nothing could be done to alleviate those painful to witness 
symptoms, for the end was fast approaching, and no doubt 
could exist in the mind as to the nature of the lesion; yet 
I thought of attempting to perform tracheotomy imme- 
diately, under the supposed diseased part of the trachea, 
