RUPTURE OF THE ABOMASUM IN A HEIFER. 
269 
evidently an improvement in the symptoms. I repeated the ap- 
plication of the belladonna, and, at the expiration of ten days, I 
considered the animal to be out of danger. 
I have now the satisfaction of seeing him at his accustomed 
sport, as well as ever. 
ACCOUNT OF A RUPTURE OF THE ABOMASUM IN 
A HEIFER. 
By Mr. Bampfield Kettle, Coluton. 
Under the impression that a communication of a case of an 
extraordinary character may prove interesting, I venture to lay 
before you one which I imagine very rarely occurs. 
On the 24th of March, at nine p.m., Messrs. Batstone and 
Parris, whose pupil I have the honour to be, were requested to 
attend a fat heifer that had formerly appeared in good health. 
Six pounds of blood had with difficulty been abstracted before Mr. 
B. could reach her. He found her down, and whether from inabi- 
lity or disinclination she could not be induced to alter her posi- 
tion. The symptoms were, — pulse quite indistinct at the jaw, 
and scarcely to be felt at the heart — respiration accelerated — 
muzzle dry — membrane of the eyes much injected — a discharge 
of frothy saliva from the mouth-profuse cold perspiration cover- 
ing the wffiole body — moaning — extremities very cold — frequently 
directing her head to her side — and the bowels constipated. 
Under so many unfavourable symptoms Mr. Batstone advised 
her being immediately slaughtered ; to which the proprietor ob- 
jected, observing that her flesh would be of a bad colour and un- 
saleable, and desired Mr. B. to give her a drench, which he ac- 
cordingly did, consisting of sulphate of magnesia, and ordered 
gruel to be given and rugs to be throwm over her. 
The farther attention on this case devolved upon myself ; and, 
when I saw her, I found the symptoms before described greatly 
aggravated, and informed the owner that, from her hopeless state, 
it would be useless to attempt to do any thing more for her. 
She survived only a few minutes after our coming to that deter- 
mination. 
Half an hour after death I proceeded to open the cavity of the 
abdomen. My attention was directed to the lacerated and dirty 
appearance of the omentum, and to a great quantity of fluid food, 
which, on examination, I found to proceed from a rupture of the 
abomasum, on cutting into which the mucous membrane wa* 
