THE EDINBURGH VETERINARY COLLEGE. 
517 
day and night previous, it was believed, from over-feeding, and 
had been treated accordingly. On the morning of the 4th, it was 
evident from the symptoms and previous duration of the case, that 
Enteritis was proceeding rapidly, and, as the animal had a degree 
of inguinal and scrotal hernia which (although on the previous night 
was quite flaccid, but now) appeared enlarged, farther examination 
shewed that a larger portion of intestine had passed into the canal. 
The tumour presented a firm but rather elastic feeling in the 
scrotum and inguinal canal of the left side, which, with other col- 
lateral symptoms, rendered it apparent that, at least, the case was 
now' complicated with a fixed protrusion of intestine in these 
parts. The horse was at this time affected with tremor and cold 
sweats, and during the paroxysms of pain frequently looked at his 
flanks. The pulse was quick and small, and breathing much accele- 
rated, with other unfavourable symptoms. It was sufficiently evi- 
dent that death was fast approaching, and that, however promptly 
even the most judicious means of relief were resorted to, the case 
would terminate fatally. As, however, from the rarity of cases of 
this description in geldings, few opportunities are afforded students 
to observe what means of relief are to be had recourse to, it was 
deemed advisable to perform the operation for liberating the gut, 
in order to shew the method of operating when cases occur in 
which assistance can be applied sufficiently early. It was first 
attempted to reduce the hernia by the taxis, but without success. 
The animal was then cast with side ropes, the hind legs drawn wide 
apart up to the abdomen, and otherwise properly secured. An in- 
cision was made over the external abdominal ring in the direction 
of the canal, through the skin, superficial fascia, &c., till the peri- 
toneal sac was cautiously exposed and opened, when a large quan- 
tity of ^bloody fluid was evacuated, and the imprisoned intestine 
(part of the ileum) brought into view, which presented a highly 
injected appearance. The finger was introduced along the sper- 
matic canal to the internal abdominal ring, which it was found did 
not so tightly compress the gut as to require dilatation by the 
knife. The hand of an assistant was at the same time introduced 
into the rectum, when the gut in its course to the internal ring was 
plainly felt and laid hold of without much difficulty. It was then 
endeavoured to return the intestine by directing it along the in- 
guinal canal through the internal ring into the abdomen with the 
finger, during the time the assistant was retracting it from the rec- 
tum internally, and by a little judicious manipulation its reduction 
was soon effected : the horse, however, died almost immediately. 
The deaths, or cases wherein animals were destroyed in con- 
sequence of fractured bones, are, one of a horse for fracture of the 
inferior extremity of the humerus involving the condyles ; one of 
