96 
A CASE OF HYDROTHORAX IN A HORSE. 
By Mr. Joseph Thompson, Borough bridge. 
Sir, — Should you think the following worthy of insertion 
in your valuable Journal, it is at your service : — 
I was called out on Friday last, December 31st, 1841, to 
attend a valuable colt, rising four-years old, the property of 
Thomas Pech, Esq., Marton-le-Moor. 
On my arrival I found him labouring under the following 
symptoms : — His ears were rather cold — the pulse very little 
affected — and the breathing natural. The owner informed me that 
he had a slight cough a few days ago, and thought he was going 
to have the distemper, and his pulse not being much affected, 
did not think it necessary to detract blood, but had his legs 
bandaged, sheeted, and made comfortable for the night. I then 
gave him a fever-ball, and took my departure. I was, however, 
sent for in the morning, he being much worse. 
On my arrival I found him lying down, and unable to rise, 
and in less than five minutes he expired. 
Not being able to account for his sudden death, 1 requested 
leave to open him, to which the owner readily consented. I found 
the bowels and abdominal cavity quite healthy : but, on exa- 
mining the chest, I found the pericardium completely filled with 
straw-coloured fluid, to the amount of from four to five quarts, 
the lungs and every other part being quite healthy. You would 
greatly oblige by giving me your opinion as to the time that 
would be occupied in the secretion, the horse being perfectly 
healthy in appearance previously. Mr. Pech wishes to have my 
opinion whether the horse was sound or unsound, he only hav- 
ing had him a fortnight in his possession. I could much wish 
to have your opinion on the matter. 
From the absence of all signs of membranous inflammation, 
pleural or pericardiac, and of any that would indicate disturbance 
of the heart’s action, I should imagine the case to be similar to 
one that occurred while I was a pupil at the Veterinary College. 
We ascribed it, I remember, to increased action of the vessels 
pouring out the natural secretion ; and thought that the collec- 
tion, which was sufficient to fill the sac, must have been some 
considerable time in forming. I should say, water, to an unusual 
amount, existed at the time of purchase, and that it kept on 
accumulating to the day of dissolution. 
W. P. 
