14 
RUPTURED SPLEEN. 
had been blistered, a fever-ball given, and blood withdrawn 
to the amount of four quarts ; nevertheless, the symptoms 
became more urgent, as evidenced by the difficulty of respira- 
tion. On my arrival, I found the patient in a very precarious 
state ; the pulse wiry and very quick, beating from 90 
to 100 in a minute, and the other symptoms as above 
stated ; only that I observed a glairy muco-purulent discharge 
issued from both nostrils. There was also present great 
emaciation, coldness of the extremities, and frothy mucus 
flowed from the mouth, but this was unaccompanied with 
any fetor. On inquiring into the origin of this attack, the 
only information I could glean was, that he was attacked 
suddenly with symptoms of sore throat, which gradually 
became worse. 
At first sight, judging only from the respiration at the 
flanks, I thought it was a case of acute laryngitis, and that 
tracheotomy must be at once performed ; but, on further 
examination, I could not satisfy myself that the symptoms 
really indicated inflammation of the lining membrane of the 
air-passages. On closer inquiry, I ascertained the horse was 
a ravenous feeder ; and after watching the symptoms more 
minutely, for some time, I at last detected a retching spas- 
modic action of the muscles, which satisfied me that the 
animal was choked. This opinion I communicated to the 
owner, who was quite certain that it was not the case ; the 
horse having, as he said, swallowed the fever-ball the day 
previous. Having sent for my probang, after a little trouble 
I succeeded in passing it into the stomach ; and in doing so, 
dislodged an accumulation of unmasticated oats, chaff, and 
beans, which had become firmly impacted in the chest por- 
tion of the oesophagus. The horse, immediately after the 
withdrawal of the probang, was much relieved. I then 
applied a blister, from the throat to the sternum, gave 
diffusible stimulants, applied friction, with bandages to the 
legs, and with good nursing, in a week, the horse was quite 
recovered, and soon regained his condition. 
CASE OF EUPTURED SPLEEN. 
By W. C. Sibbald, M.E.C.Y.S., Biggleswade. 
The subject of the following case was the thorough-bred, 
brown mare, “ Seaweed,” by “ Slane ” out of “ Seakale ’ 5 by 
