16 
RUPTURED SPLEEN. 
Nov. 6th, 1 1 a.m. — The mare remains tranquil, and seems 
comfortable. Pulse 66; mouth moist, and sweet; body 
and extremities warm ; the membrane of the nose, and the 
eyelid, is of a natural colour : all the four legs are now 
much swollen, altho 5 the lameness has disappeared from the 
hind limb. On the animal being led out, she passed some 
very soft faeces, in fact, purging was commencing. Allowed 
her a small quantity of warm water, and a warm bran mash, 
as diet. 
7th, 1 p.m — She has not had any return of pain; eats as 
much mash as is allowed her, and is very thirsty; pulse 
76; purging freely, abdomen flaccid; mouth rather dry; 
body and extremities warm. Scarcely any wheat now 
passes with the dejections. Allowed her a little hay, in addi- 
tion to the bran mash, and substituted gruel for water. 
8th, 12 noon. — The mare was again attacked with severe 
pain early this morning, and it has since been increasing in 
intensity. She fed well during the night, and purged con- 
siderably. A draught, containing Tirict. Opii, et Sp. /Ether. 
Nit. has been administered to her. She can now scarcely be 
kept upon her legs. The submaxillary pulse is very in- 
distinctly to be felt, beating 100 in the minute; ears, 
legs, and mouth cold ; the oedematous swelling has com- 
pletely disappeared from the limbs; the abdomen is exceed- 
ingly flaccid; she empties the bladder freely; her breathing 
is somewhat stertorous, and when she rises for a minute or 
two, she moves very unsteadily; the visible mucous membranes 
are again of a damask hue. She was caused to stand while 
about three quarts of blood were slowly withdrawn from the 
right jugular vein, after which she broke out in a cold per- 
spiration. A strong liquid blister was then applied over the 
whole external surface of the abdomen, and she continued in 
great pain, being constantly up and down, until 3 p.m. At 
that time the pulse could not be felt at the jaw ; her ears were 
quite cold; occasionally she was violently convulsed, the 
muscles of the whole frame quivering, and the legs stretched 
rigidly out. The eye-balls seemed ready to start from their 
sockets, and her breathing became exceedingly heavy and 
stertorous. About four o'clock, in one of these paroxysms, 
she expired. 
On opening the body about an hour after death, the cavity 
of the abdomen was found filled with blood. The peritoneum, 
and subjacent cellular tissue, infiltrated by exosmosis, and 
of a dark red hue. The hemorrhage had taken place from a 
rupture of the peritoneal covering of the spleen, on its concave 
side, and in immediate contiguity to the attachment of the 
