30 
RUPTURE OF THE DIAPHRAGM. 
direction, and that a portion of the stomach and small intes- 
tines had protruded into the thoracic cavity. There was no 
indication of inflammatory action having existed in any part 
of the alimentary canal, and the food it contained was not 
very great in quantity, and quite semifluid in its character. 
The second case occurred about six months afterwards. 
The subject of it was a black gelding, seven years old, 
belonging to the above-named person, and had been in his 
possession for two or three years. He had also worked regu- 
larly and well during that period and up to Saturday, the 
15th September last, on which day he returned home at night 
from a long and rather heavy journey, apparently in his usual 
health; and after eating his allowance of corn, &c., was 
turned out for the night. On the following morning, at an 
early hour, he was found to be lying down, with a dull and 
drooping countenance, and from the state of the adjacent 
ground, had evidently been very restless for some time. He 
was immediately brought home, and I was consulted. I will 
not trouble you with a minute description of this case, suffice 
it to say, that he had what, in common parlance, is called the 
ce belly ache,” for which he underwent the treatment best 
adapted to alleviate his sufferings, and to remove the cause of 
them, in the shape of anodyne, aperient, and antispasmodic 
medicines, followed by bloodletting, blistering of the abdo- 
men, raking, clystering, &c. &c., all of which proved unavail- 
ing, for he, like his unlucky companion, succumbed to the 
disease. The condition of his body after death was precisely 
the same as that described in the foregoing case, viz., rupture 
of the diaphgram to a great extent, and displacement of a 
portion of the abdominal viscera. 
This horse, unlike his fellow, remained in the standing 
position from the time he was brought into the stable until 
the following morning, when he died ; with the exception of 
his lying down twice or three times very quietly, and unac- 
companied with struggling when down. 
You will at once infer that this has been a very serious 
pecuniary loss to the proprietor of these animals, and as it is 
most desirous to guard against a recurrence of such ill luck, 
I have thought it advisable to give your readers a detailed ac- 
count of these cases ; and if you, or they, can throw any light 
upon the cause which gave rise to these attacks, for the Latin 
phrase, causa latet res est notissimtf, is most applicable here, 
you or they will, by expressing your opinions, confer a 
favour that I shall hold in high estimation. 
The nature of the work in which these horses were engaged, 
was to convey, in covered carts or waggons, heavy loads of 
