THE EDINBURGH VETERINARY COLLEGE. 
557 
patient was a cab-horse, that had been affected with colic in the 
morning. Some medicine had been given, and also clysters, by the 
owner and driver. The animal, however, not being relieved, and 
as he still appeared to suffer much pain, and was straining vio- 
lently and passing blood, was brought here in the evening. On 
examination it was immediately found that the rectum had been 
injured so extensively by introducing the clyster-pipe rashly and 
with too much force, that the contents of the intestines were escaping 
into the peritoneal cavity, and producing a fatal inflammation of 
the peritoneum ; the horse was therefore ordered to be destroyed. 
A case of laryngitis requiring tracheotomy came here on August 
21st, and was a black horse belonging to a carter who had bought 
him the previous cTay for a small sum, in consequence of being, as 
he supposed, broken-winded. It did not, however, prove one of 
that character. There were frequent fits of great difficulty in 
breathing, but in the intervals respiration was tolerably easy. 
From these circumstances it was supposed there might exist a 
tumour in the vicinity of the larynx, similar to the one in the case 
which occurred here, reported in The VETERINARIAN for Fe- 
bruary 1843 ; but, on examination, neither tumour, nor any other 
foreign body, could be discovered in the pharynx or larynx, so as 
to account for the occasional severity of the symptoms, and the 
case was treated as one of laryngitis. The animal was sent away, 
but had not proceeded far when another attack of dyspnoea came on, 
much more severe than any that had'hitherto occurred. So intense, 
indeed, was the agony of the animal, that the body was covered 
with profuse perspiration, and the mouth was widely opened, as 
though relief was expected by so doing, while the action of the 
diaphragm and abdominal muscles was excited to the utmost : in 
fact, every symptom existed which indicated that death from 
asphyxia must take place if relief was not immediately afforded. 
Tracheotomy was therefore performed, but with some difficulty, in 
consequence of the animal being scarcely able to stand for a mo- 
ment in one position, from the extreme distress and difficulty of 
breathing. He threw and dashed about his head in such a manner 
as to render it dangerous to approach him, and it did not appear 
judicious to cast him for the operation, nor indeed was there time 
for it. The operation, however, was completed in time to save 
him from failing, and relief to the breathing was instantaneous; 
the tube was therefore introduced, and properly secured. Although 
the difficulty of breathing was entirely removed, there was consi- 
derable pain attending deglutition : quantities of food and water, 
when he swallowed, passed out at the tube in the trachea, and 
also escaped by the nostrils, and continued with little abatement 
until August 31st, by which time an abscess similar to that of 
VOL. XVIII. 4 G 
