332 
CYSTIC CALCULUS IN A HORSE. 
stone. The animal being nearly useless, the operation was at 
once determined upon, but on account of the severity of the 
weather, I did not deem it advisable to operate before March 
5th, 1855. 
Mr. Andrews, surgeon, of this city, was present at the 
operation, and kindly gave me the benefit of his assistance. 
The horse was cast, and secured as for castration, the hind 
legs being carefully brought forward, and firmly secured in 
an abducted position. Chloroform was then inhaled, and in 
five minutes the animal was completely under its influence. 
A whalebone staff was now passed up the urethra to the 
ischial arch, and being firmly held in its place, it was cut 
down upon, and by this means a fair sized opening was 
made into the canal. The large size of the calculus required 
that the incision should be extended towards the sphincter 
ani muscle to admit of the withdrawal of the stone when 
grasped by the forceps. This done, and the forceps passed 
into the bladder, the calculus was readily grasped, and after 
a few minutes 5 steady traction it was extracted. The blad- 
der was then washed out with tepid water, and a little solu- 
tion of the extract of belladonna subsequently injected with 
a view to allay irritation. The incision in the perinaeum 
was closed by three sutures. The operation being completed, 
the hobbles were removed, and the horse, after lying a short 
time, got up. The pulse was now 56, and the respiration 
much accelerated. The animal was placed in a loose box, 
and ordered to be kept particularly quiet : an opiate was also 
administered. 
At 7 p.m., he w^as seen to urinate partly through the na- 
tural passage, and partly through the wound. Shortly after 
this, he gave evidence of the existence of severe abdominal 
pain, by lying down, and looking back at his flanks, & c. I 
administered a draught consisting of Tinct. Opii, Jiss. et 01. 
Lini, Oss., and threw up an enema. These means afforded tem- 
porary relief, and after lying about an hour, the patient got up 
and appeared to be nearly free from acute pain. The pulse 
however, had risen to 70, and the respirations numbered 17 in 
the minute, showing great constitutional irritation. He was 
left for a time, a little thin gruel being placed in his box, of 
w T hich he partook sparingly. At 12 p.m., the pulse had in- 
creased to 90, and was scarcely to be felt at the jaw, the 
respiration also was proportionally accelerated. The pain 
had returned, but it w^as now r chiefly indicated by his occa- 
sionally stamping with the hind feet. 
A little before 4 o’clock the following morning, all the 
unfavorable symptoms had become greatly aggravated, so 
