188 
CASE OF ENORMOUS TUMOUR. 
value as well illustrative of the abstract disease as demonstrative 
of the importance of attending, in all cases in which any doubt may 
arise, to the minutiae of diagnosis, I have sent it for insertion. 
June 16/4, 1846. — I was called in to attend a bay mare, mid- 
dle aged, tolerably well bred, who had been used as a hunter and 
hack. The mare was believed to be in foal, and was thought to 
have gone over her time. On this latter point, however, there was 
much reason to doubt, as no correct information could be obtained 
as to the period when last she went to the horse. 
The reason why I was called in was from the mare being at- 
tacked with influenza. I found the mucous membranes of a yel- 
low tinge and highly injected — pulse rather quick, but weak — - 
dulness about the eyes — respiration tranquil — appetite moderate 
— and the condition very low. The abdomen was greatly dis- 
tended, especially at the lower part, the right side being rather 
the most prominent. 
My opinion being asked as to the fact of the mare being with 
foal, 1 proceeded to make a careful examination by introducing my 
hand per rectum. With considerable difficulty I could feel a large 
circumscribed tumour so situate that I believed it to be a gravid 
uterus. The labia pudendi, however, did not shew any relaxa- 
tion or tendency to relax, neither did the mammae shew any ful- 
ness, nor the contiguous superficial bloodvessels evince any of that 
engorgement so generally to be observed previous to these organs 
taking on the functions of secretion. It was perfectly evident that 
there was disorder of the mucous membranes, also that there ex- 
isted a low febrile state of the system, and for this I prescribed 
accordingly; but from the very contradictory symptoms which 
manifested themselves I could by no means make up my mind to 
give any positive opinion on the question of her being with foal. 
Believing, however, in my own mind that there was a foal, though 
in some very weakly condition, or perhaps dead, under these cir- 
cumstances I advised the proprietor to seek another opinion ; and 
accordingly, on the 22d of June, Mr. Arthur Cherry made an 
examination of the case with me. 
Meanwhile, the general health had improved, the attack of in- 
fluenza subsiding under the treatment adopted. The labia pudendi 
and mammae had not altered their appearance, although the abdo- 
men had rather increased in size. A more minute examination 
was instituted. Auscultation at the flank did not indicate the “ bruit” 
of foetal action, except that there was occasionally to be detected a 
low indistinct murmur, evidently not referrible to any of the abdo- 
minal vicera. The examination per rectum proved that there was 
a large circumscribed tumour occupying the situation of a gravid 
uterus, rather inclining to the right side, giving to the touch a simi- 
