EXTENSIVE INJURY TO A COW SCIENTIFICALLY TREATED. 51 
ing the wound, and, to my gratification, I soon found that the beast 
was considerably relieved, and, in many respects, appeared better. 
I now proceeded to close the posterior part of the wound ; but be- 
fore I did this I detached several small portions of bone from each 
end of the fractured ribs, as I could see no possibility of their 
uniting in such a jagged state. After this I brought the divided 
muscles into contact by the same means, and thus finished the ope- 
ration, which, when done, assumed a far less formidable appear- 
ance than could have been looked for. 
Being late in the evening, and having another patient to visit at 
a distance of several miles, I administered an opening drench, and 
ordered her to be kept upon spare diet until I saw her again. 
On the afternoon of the next day I again saw her, when I found 
circumstances offering a favourable result, little tumefaction having 
taken place, and, in other respects, the beast was feeding and ru- 
minating as if nothing had happened. The bowels having gently 
responded to the medicine, and no untoward symptoms shewing 
themselves, I left my patient with this injunction, that if the beast 
appeared to get worse, a messenger was to be sent for me. 
On my next visit I had the pleasure of finding that, in the an- 
terior part of the wound, union by the first intention had taken 
place, and had the appearance of being quite sound. At the pos- 
terior part, and especially over the fractured ribs, appearances 
were not so favourable, a small quantity of matter making its ap- 
pearance from the wound. On account of this 1 was rather stag- 
gered in my prognosis, as I knew that, if matter formed in 
large quantities, as most likely it would from the size and situa- 
tion of the wound, it would fall into the abdominal cavity, and, 
acting as a foreign body, be a source of irritation, from which, 
most likely, no pleasing effects would follow. From this trouble 
I was quickly relieved ; for on cutting open the sutures and cleans- 
ing the wound, I found, to my great gratification, that a false 
membrane had formed, which would act as a barrier, and com- 
pletely put a stop to any thing falling into that cavity. 
At this time the cow shewed symptoms of uneasiness. Her 
respiration became quicker, the pulse was accelerated, the ears and 
horns were hot, and, the animal being in a state of irritative fever, 
I now bled her for the first time, and gave another opening drench, 
followed up by sedatives, &c., which, in a short time, completely 
relieved her. 
From that time the portion of wound suppurated profusely, but 
no other untoward symptoms shewed themselves, except a few 
slight attacks of feverishness, which were easily subdued by the 
usual means, and the beast progressed rapidly toward conva- 
lescence. 
