364 
SINGULAR INJURY OF THE RECTUM IN A HORSE. 
Communicated by Mr. J. Osborn, Ashbourn . 
I am induced by the singularity of the following case to send 
it to your valuable Journal. It is that of an eight-year-old cart 
horse of great strength, and, of course, at this season, of great 
utility. He was going home from the mill, and either through 
the neglect of his rider, or misconduct on the part of the driver 
of a spring cart, he was brought in contact with the off-shaft, 
which entered the rectum per anum, and proceeded to the pelvis. 
The shaft there broke, and ten inches of it were left in the 
rectum. This was drawn out in a short time, and the horse 
walked home, a distance of five miles . I was requested to attend 
him, and to be there as early as possible, as the horse was in 
great pain. 
On inserting my hand into the rectum I immediately found 
a rupture in the lining membrane of it, nine inches in length. 
The horse was bled, a dose of cathartic medicine given, and a 
lotion containing ^ij of tinct. opii added to two quarts of water 
injected into the rectum, and repeated four times a-day. This 
was the 6th of May. 
I saw the horse early on the following morning. The medi- 
cine was operating briskly ; the pulse was 70 ; the appetite good, 
and he appeared as though he was in perfect health. The 
lotion was repeated, and a ball, containing pulv. opii 3>j> admi- 
nistered, and a bran mash with tepid water was ordered to be 
his principal diet. 
On the 8th to all appearance he was going on well. He ate, 
drank, and rested as though nothing was the matter. The 
pulse was 77, and the treatment the same as the day before. 
At 10 p.m. I was again sent for, the horse being suddenly 
seized with pain, and expected to die every minute. I found 
him in great agony ; the pulse was 95, and feeble, and the respi- 
ration hurried. I gave a large dose of tincture of opium, with 
§i of sp. nit. ether. The pain soon abated, and he recovered 
his former appearance. 
9th . — He is quite free from pain. There is a constant desire for 
food. The pulse is 87, the extremities moderately warm, and 
the bowels moderately open. The treatment the same as the 7th. 
12th .— Much the same as when I last saw him, except that 
the pulse was 72. The lotion was continued, and a little hay 
given him. 
He continued in this state, eating and resting well, and look- 
