THE EDINBURGH VETERINARY COLLEGE. 
323 
or rupture of any part of the intestines or stomach ; yet, while all 
of these conditions frequently present this symptom, they are dis- 
tinguishable from each other by other auxiliary symptoms. In 
the present case, these seemed to indicate existence of some acci- 
dental displacement, arising probably from the sudden evolution of 
gas caused bv irregular feeding ; and it was with the view of coun- 
teracting this, that directions were given to back-rake, and move 
the intestines about in the abdomen ; and, although such an occur- 
rence is rare, the chance of removing or overcoming any cause of 
obstruction is a sufficient reason for its cautious adoption. That 
caution and gentleness are necessary is evident from the fact that, 
by using undue force when back-raking, laceration of the rectum 
has taken place : this has also sometimes followed the administra- 
tion of clysters, when improper instruments have been used, or 
when sufficient care has not been taken. 
MR. BARLOW’S LETTER TO THE EDITORS. 
Gentlemen, — A t the foot of page 256, in your last number, you 
have appended a note stating that Mr. Percivall, in his “ Anatomy 
of the Horse,” has described the “ yellow elastic fibrous tissue” 
to which I had referred, under the name of “ Faschia Transversa- 
lis ; ” and has represented it to be of “ essential service in sustaining 
the burden of dependent viscera.” 
In the “ Anatomy of the Horse,” pp. 127-8, Mr. Percivall’s 
words are, “ A careful incision through some of the posterior 
fibres of the transversalis, will disclose to view an expansion of 
faschia of considerable density and firmness of structure, which 
corresponds to a part in the human subject first described by Sir 
Astley Cooper, and by him named the faschia transversalis. It 
may be traced as an entire lining to the muscles of the abdomen ; 
and is, from the resistance which it opposes (which is by no means 
inconsiderable) of essential service in sustaining the burden of the 
dependent viscera, in effecting which it reduces the demand for 
muscular action. Though it is an opening (removed a short dis- 
tance inwardly from the external ring) called the internal abdo- 
minal ring.” 
Now, the faschia transversalis of Cooper, described also by 
Lawrence, Cruveilhier, Cloquet and others, does exist in the 
horse, and is found in the same corresponding situation as in the 
human subject; being seen, as Mr. Percivall says, by making a 
“ careful incision through some of the posterior fibres of the trans- 
versalis” abdominis ; but the yellow elastic fibrous tissue to which 
I alluded is widely different from it, both structurally and locally. 
