176 
MISCELLENEA. 
ACCOUNT OF A FOREIGN BODY IN THE SUPERIOR 
PART OF THE HEART OF AN OX. 
By M. Laroque. 
On the 2d day of April, 1830, it was observed that a bull 
about four-and-a-half years old, and of the common class, refused 
bis food, and soon afterwards was found labouring under violent 
convulsions. The proprietor made him swallow a bottle of warm 
wine, rubbed him well, and two hours afterwards repeated the 
wine and the friction. The animal was apparently more calm, 
and no other remedy was applied until the following day. He 
then appeared much more quiet, and the remedy of the preceding 
day was resorted to. On a sudden, however, the most convulsive 
motions appeared in the whole of the anterior portion of the ani- 
mal — there was peculiar and jerking motion of every limb — the 
skin became cold, and there was obstinate constipation. On the 
third day, a veterinary surgeon, finding the expiration exceed- 
ingly difficult, and the nostril nearly obstructed, and the pulse 
sadly accelerated, effected a bleeding from the jugular, adminis- 
tered cooling drinks and mucilaginous medicines, while aqueous 
vapours were passed through the nostrils. A coverlet of thick wool 
was applied. Towards the evening of the same day the bleeding 
was repeated, and a white acidulated water prescribed. 
4 th. The pulse is the same as before, and the respiration un- 
changed. Another bleeding of five pounds was resorted to, and 
a seton passed through the dewlap. 
5th. The same means are continued. The pulse, however, is less 
accelerated, but the bleeding was not continued from fear of too 
much debilitating the animal. There were frequent eructa- 
tions, almost threatening the death of the animal, who was, 
however, in a standing posture, the neck extended, and in a 
strangely fixed position. If he fell, he continued the same position 
of the head and neck, and, at length, he seemed to be evidently 
worn out. 
6th. The alternations of cold and heat succeed to each other — the 
gurgling in the throat is readily distinguished when the ear is ap- 
plied to it. A short and repeated beating of the flanks is still 
heard. 
1th and 8 th. The animal eats a small portion of hay, and a small 
quantity of excrement, dry or mucous, appears. 
9 th. The patient is now apparently exhausted — he is immove- 
able ; the sound of the gurgle is strangely increased, and there 
appears to be dropsy of the chest. 
Y. 
