CASES BY MR. R. H. DYER. 
695 
tered two bottles of ol. ricini, also a diuretic ball, and on Wednesday 
gave her up, stating he could do nothing more for her, and that she 
would most certainly die. The owner, however, not liking to give 
up all hope without first ascertaining whether any thing could be 
done, sent for me. I inquired if the practitioner would meet me, 
stating that I should like to see him : he was sent to, but declined 
meeting me on the following grounds, viz. he could do nothing more 
for her, therefore considered it useless consulting. 
I put a few questions to the groom as to the opinions advanced 
by him (the practitioner) of the nature of the disease, when he in- 
formed me that no definite disease had been stated: three 
maladies, however, were mentioned by him as being present, viz. 
first, inflammation of the kidneys, then of the bowels, lastly of the 
chest; but, to crown all, the mare was labouring under “ inflam- 
mation.” 
Upon examination per rectum I could scarcely keep my hand 
within it : I withdrew the faecal matter, and also emptied the 
bladder. The following were the symptoms upon examination: — 
Breathing 84 per minute, short and quick — pulse 72, but feeble, 
at times almost indistinct — no tenderness between the ribs — by 
applying the ear to the chest, water was distinctly heard — respira- 
tory murmur heard only at the anterior part of the lungs — mouth 
hot and clammy, with stench — membranes injected — nostrils 
dilated — ears, body, and extremities, warm — sometimes lying 
down, at other times standing — dolorous countenance — no appe- 
tite — discharge of pus from both nostrils of a greyish colour, of a 
most offensive odour, so bad that no person would remain near her. 
After the above examination my opinion was asked. I stated the 
chest to contain water, the lungs nearly full of abscesses, and I 
thought it probable the heart was implicated, and that no art of 
mine could save the mare. She was left until the morning, and to 
be seen by daylight. I expressed the same opinion at that time, 
and advised her to be destroyed, which was done in my presence, 
also in the presence of two of the owner’s men. 
Post-mortem appearances were these : about a gallon of serum 
in the chest — false membranes thrown across the chest — the lungs, 
with the exception of portions of the anterior part of them, entirely 
tuberculous. The heart was next opened, and shewed symptoms 
of inflammation, as there was a quantity of albuminous matter 
contained within it, and the carnese calumnse of a black red colour ; 
the other viscera partook of a natural character. 
Previous history of the mare. — Two years ago she was treated 
for colic, and got well : in a day or two, up to the present month, 
she has been in constant work, and apparently healthy ; at all 
events, she has never required medical treatment. On the 4th 
instant the mare was driven very hard, but shewed no symptoms 
