386 
ABDOMINAL WOUND OF THE INTESTINE. 
viscus was first sewn up, next the thin layer of muscle, and 
lastly, the skin; the operation being then completed. 
The hen appears quite lively, and to be doing well at present. 
I will communicate further with you upon the subject should 
anything unfavorable take place. 
I am, yours very truly, &c. 
[We thank Mr. Gowing for forwarding the removed mass 
to us for inspection, which, as he describes it, consisted of 
“an accumulation of eggs without their shells.” It pre- 
sented a strange appearance, resembling, from long retention, 
hard-boiled and broken up eggs.] 
CASE OF ABDOMINAL WOUND WITH LACERA- 
TION OF THE INTESTINE OF A COLT, SUC- 
CESSFULLY TREATED.— ALSO TWO CASES OF 
HERNIA. 
By Bampfield Kettle, M.R.C.V.S., Market Drayton. 
Gentlemen, — A pressure of professional engagements 
has prevented an earlier fulfilment of my promise to you. 
I was requested, on the afternoon of the 23d December, 
1854, to attend a colt, the property of Mr. Lea, of Bloor, 
near this town. He was a fine, strong animal, eight months 
old, and of the cart breed. On examining him, I found 
there was a wound on the left side of the abdomen, pene- 
trating the integument and walls, six or eight inches in 
advance of the stifle, and horizontal with it, through which the 
colon protruded to an extent that would fill a hat. On 
still further examination, I discovered that the colon itself 
was ruptured rather more than an inch longitudinally, and 
its contents freely escaping. I explained to the owner of 
the animal the nature of the lesions, and he remarked 
that, as it seemed a hopeless case, under the circum- 
stances he thought the animal had better be destroyed. 
In reply, I observed that, although I could not anticipate 
a favorable result from anything that might be adopted, 
still, as I was on the spot, I was anxious to try what could 
be done. The owner at last reluctantly consented to the ani- 
mal’s being operated upon. On cleaning the intestines prepa- 
ratory to their being returned, they presented tints scarcely to 
be met with in the rainbow, varying from a light pink to a 
shadow approaching black, a state of things little ealeu- 
