26 
ON SPASM OF THE DIAPHRAGM. 
Post-mortem Appearances. — Out of eighteen cases, six have 
died, and the following were the post-mortem appearances : — 
One of Mr. Brown’s was not opened by him, but he was in- 
formed that the viscera were quite healthy. 
In another, where the horse had taken a severe leap in hunting, 
the diaphragm was found to be pale and flabby, and the intestines 
free from inflammation. His bowels had not been opened, 
although an immense quantity of purging medicine had been given. 
The bloodvessels of the psose muscles were ruptured, and a small 
quantity of coagulated blood found there. Query : May this have 
extended to the crura of the diaphragm ? 
In one case, where it was seen only for a short time, the colt 
died of ulcerated intestine, and had been sadly troubled with a 
large quantity of (easily found) tape-worms. 
In another case, vide The Veterinarian, vol. xiv, p. 625, 
considered by the author to be “ inflammation of the diaphragm,” 
there was spasm of it, of which she appeared to get well ; but on 
one day she was ridden out gently, and on her return she de- 
voured a quantity of hay and corn, and shortly afterwards fell 
down and died. On examination, the same day, the dia- 
phragm was found to be ruptured, and the muscular portion 
“ softer and less solid than is natural, and of a dirty whitish red 
colour; the stomach full of undigested food, and distended with 
gas, and, on its internal surface, a gangrenous spot, and slightly 
inflamed.” The sudden falling down was considered to be the 
cause of the rupture. 
In another of the fatal cases there was introsusception of the 
bowels. And in the sixth case there was no disease of the dia- 
phragm, but there was inflammation of some of the large intes- 
tines. Mr. Beeson says he never saw any die but what were 
symptomatic cases. 
When most visible. — In all cases that I have seen, the spasm 
has been decidedly more visible during inspiration , and less and 
less so as the expiration terminated, until at last it is quite invisi- 
ble. This circumstance may explain why some have said the 
spasm and pulse were not synchronous. 
Cause of the external Beating , tyc. — If, from over-exertion in 
the chase, or otherwise, or from sympathy existing between the 
stomach or intestines, or from disease of the phrenic nerve, the 
diaphragm becomes unduly irritated, then, instead of that gradual 
and regular contraction of its fibres, as in ordinary inspirations, 
it becomes spasmodically affected, whereby the thorax is sud- 
denly and partially dilated, forming, if I may be allowed the 
expression, a vacuum in the chest; to fill up which the air, from 
the pressure from without, immediately and forcibly rushes into 
