51 
A SINGULAR CASE OF RUPTURE OF THE STOMACH 
IN A HORSE. 
By Mr. R. B. Paterson, V.S., Dumfries. 
The case sent by me for insertion in your valuable journal for 
May 1841, was not one of that kind which essentially differed 
from any that had preceded it. The only object I had in writing 
to you at the time, as I before stated, was in order that an accu- 
mulation of unvarnished facts might be given to the world, for 
the purpose, if possible, of forming a correct pathology of the 
disease — puerperal fever. The subjoined case of rupture of the 
peritoneal and muscular coats of the stomach, and leaving almost 
entire the mucous coat, is one which I think will be read, by the 
members of the profession at least, with considerable interest. 
The subject of the present history was a bay colt, three years 
old, the property of James Wilken, Esq. Zinwald Downs. He 
was at a horsebreaker’s establishment in town, for the purpose of 
being broken into harness. 
I was called at nine o’clock in the evening of the 20th of October 
1842, and was told he had been trembling severely, and had had 
administered to him §iij spts. sether. nitrici, and was bled. His 
pulse was at that time 80 ; he was continually shifting from one 
leg to the other, but feeding occasionally. 
I then gave him pulv. digital. 3j, nit. potass. 3iij, in gruel. 
About twelve, his pulse being still on the increase, and the un- 
easiness likewise, 1 gave him tinct. opii §iiij, spt. aether, nitrici 
§ij, ol. ricini §xv, and enemata. 
About three o’clock on the morning of the 21st he became 
quieter, and his pulse reduced to 64; we then left him. 
I again saw him at half-past nine, a.m., when he was worse, 
his pulse being 96, and full. He was again bled, and got a ball 
composed of pulv. digital. 3j> pulv. antimonialis 3ij> opii 3 SS > 
Barb, aloe 3 iss, and frequent injections. 
I p.m. — The pulse was 102, and breathing much accelerated ; 
but the colicky symptoms disappearing. 
3 p.m. — The ball was repeated. 
7 p.m. — Pulse 97. A ball was given, composed of pulv. digi- 
tal. 3 j, pulv. antim. 3’tj ; hydrarg. subm. et opii, aa9j. 
II p.m. — Ball repeated: breath foetid. 
10 o’clock on the morning of the 22d : pulse 90, seemingly 
easier. He got a ball as the last, with spt. sether. nitrici jij. 
1 p.m. — Bowels open; pulse 88. Ball and nit. sether. repeated. 
4 p.m. — Pulse 85, and intermittent. 
