ON SPASM OF THK DIAPHRAGM. 
21 
a.m. — He was found dead. 
Post-mortem Examination. — This was made by me as 
soon as possible after death, and I examined very minutely, in 
order to discover, if possible, the cause of the spasm. 
The panniculus carnosus, covering the part on the left side un- 
der which the spasm seemed principally to be, was discoloured 
with dark blood, but which might have been produced by in- 
jury, as he was found dead on that side, or from lying on it after 
death : this bloody hue, however, did not extend any deeper. 
There was a slight effusion of serum in the abdomen, on cutting 
into which the caecum presented itself of a very dark colour and 
much diseased. The stomach was healthy, and moderately dis- 
tended with gruel, in which was found the ball that had been 
given at three o’clock the afternoon before, and not the least dis- 
solved, and with the paper still on it. The small intestines con- 
tained scarcely any thing except an increase of mucus. The 
caecum was highly diseased — its inner coat, especially at its 
apex, was of a dark hue, and was covered with a thin layer of 
extravasated blood : the remainder of the large intestines were 
very slightly discoloured. The caecum contained principally fluid, 
and the colon soft faeces : the faeces in the rectum were more dry, 
but not hard. The liver was far from healthy, being of a clay 
colour. The spleen and omentum were beautifully healthy. 
The peritoneum healthy, and having no appearance of inflamma- 
tion. In the diaphragm I could not detect the least vestige of 
disease, or any thing different to what I had been accustomed to 
meet with in other cases. I took it home, and dissected, in se- 
veral places, the peritoneum of it: there was not the least extrava- 
sation of any sort, but its fibres were beautifully red, corrugated, 
and distinct: its crura were also natural. The mediastinum at- 
tached to and that in the neighbourhood of the pericardium was 
partially covered with spots of ecchymosis. The pericardium did 
not contain more serum than is naturally found — its apex, exter- 
nally, was thickly ecchymosed. The heart was normal. The 
phrenic nerve, in several places, before arriving at the diaphragm, 
was ecchymosed within its texture rather extensively. 
Case III. — 25th Aug. 1826. — About nine a.m., I was sent 
for to see a pony that was ill. 
Symptoms . — Spasm of the diaphragm on the near side, and 
which is synchronous with the pulse : breathes in a catching 
manner, as she takes four, five, or six small inspirations to fill 
the lungs, but she expires tolerably easily, and with scarcely 
any of the spasmodic action being perceptible. Respiration but 
little increased — pulse 60. Legs and ears warm — mouth hot — 
appetite lost — eyes inflamed, especially on the near side, and she 
