NEEDLES SWALLOWED BY CATTLE. 
649 
I found my patient to be a young cow in good condition, though 
somewhat dull and heavy in appearance. The pulse was full, and 
about 50 — the pulsations of the heart I could not feel, on account 
of the swelling — the mucous membrane of the mouth was moist, 
and of its natural warmth — the dung hard and dark-coloured— the 
cough frequent and painful — and the breathing rapid. When I 
pressed the thorax with my hand it did not appear to cause the 
animal any pain, excepting in one spot; viz. on the left side at 
the end of the true ribs, just where the elbow-joint came. Here 
there was a slight degree of swelling extending over a space about 
the size of a man’s hand : it was evidently very painful, and rather 
hot : the skin was uninjured, and there was no sign of any wound. 
The animal kept the leg held out as much as possible, in order to 
avoid any friction of the part ; the position of the right foot was 
perfectly natural. 
On first examination, my impression was that this was a case 
of inflammation of the chest, and, consequently, T took blood and 
gave internally nitre and sulph. in a mucilaginous drink : to the 
swelling I ordered lukewarm mucilaginous fomentations, as the 
pressure of a poultice would have caused too much pain; and, as 
I feared that the fomentations would not be regularly applied dur- 
ing the night, desired that it might be well rubbed with goose- 
grease the last thing in the evening. 
On the following day the only apparent alteration in my patient 
was, that it was livelier, and the swelling much larger. 
On the 4th of November I found the swelling increased to the 
size of a man’s two fists, but no fluctuation could be discovered in 
any part. All internal symptoms of disease had vanished; the 
animal ate, drank, and dunged as usual; the secretion of milk was 
copious, and the cough was entirely gone. 
On the 7th of November I discovered a spot in which fluc- 
tuation was faintly perceptible; and on opening the swelling 
a chocolate-coloured stinking matter oozed out. I made my in- 
cision yet larger, and the discharge poured forth abundantly, 
bringing with it a foreign body, which, on examination, proved to 
be a long, large, sharp-pointed darning needle, somewhat bent at 
the eye, and the point directed outwards. On inquiring how this 
could by possibility have come in the animal’s way, the miller re- 
called to mind that about a month before some sacks had been 
mended in the hay-loft and a needle had been lost ; whether this 
one or not he could not say; but upon its being shewn to his wife 
she at once identified it. 
The swelling disappeared. The wound was, by the application 
of proper chirurgical means, speedily healed ; and, since that time, 
the animal has manifested no sign of disease. 
VOL. XVIII. 4 T 
