514 
RUPTURE OF THE STOMACH. 
I was called again at six, but when I arrived the mare was dead. 
On immediate examination, I found rupture of the stomach of about 
eighteen inches in extent, the edges about an inch and a half from 
the rupture, red and inflamed, with patches here and there of 
coagulated blood, shewing that it must have occurred some 
time before death, and of which it was the cause. The mare had 
a foal. It had had enteritis, for which she had been confined about 
a week. She was fed on cut grass during that time, and had, that 
day, been turned out on fine rich old pasture. Being a greedy 
feeder, she had, likely, ate by far too large a quantity, with which 
the abdomen was entirely filled. 
A considerable time ago, I was called to a horse belonging to 
Mr. Smith, farmer, at Chalkside. When I arrived, this animal 
also was dead. On hearing the symptoms described (severe pain 
— excessive sweating — sighing — hanging the head — often lying 
down without rolling, &c.), I gave it as my opinion that the sto- 
mach and bowels were ruptured. 
He had been to Musselburgh for manure that morning, and the 
frost had come on for the first time the night before. The shoes were 
not sharpened, as the frost was not expected to last ; and in coming 
up at a considerably rising part on the road with the loaded cart, the 
horse slid and struggled much, after which he was seized with 
pain, trembling, sweating, &c. The horse was sent to the Duke 
of Buccleugh’s kennel, where I made a post-mortem examination, 
and found rupture of the stomach to a considerable extent, the 
contents floating in the abdomen, and a smooth layer plaistered 
finely on the concave side of the diaphragm, and laterally on the 
abdomen ; distinctly shewing, along with the inflamed state of the 
edges of the rupture, that it had been done a considerable time 
previously to death. 
These cases are of little practical use, except as shewing how 
near we can come to the truth in our diagnosis, and the satisfaction 
our prognosis must give to our employers ; also the necessity of 
our paying particular attention to the most minute symptom, and 
to post-mortem examinations. 
