518 
SPASM OF THE DIAPHRAGM. 
variation of more than half an inch ; and even that in some in- 
stances I believe to have been in a degree owing to the difficulty 
there was in fixing upon the precise spot as “the centre of the 
elbow; ” or else to the nicety required, in fat or broad-chested horses, 
in intersecting the measuring-tape, carried up in a perpendicular 
line from the elbow, by a plane or horizontal line extended trans- 
versely from the withers. For, be it observed, should tape or string 
be used as a measure, it must not be carried in contact with the skin 
round the shoulder to be made to touch the withers, but must be 
held up tight, in a perpendicular line, and the measurement then 
be taken by a cross-line extended from the top of the withers. 
Now that my attention has been called to the subject, I intend to 
see to what account the test can be employed in the passing of 
recruit horses into the service. Supposing that the limbs do not 
increase in length after the second or third year of age, horses enter- 
ing the army might be measured after the manner described above, 
with a view of ascertaining the quantum of their future growth. 
William Percivall. 
A CASE OF WHAT IS CALLED SPASM OF THE 
DIAPHRAGM. 
By Mr. W. A. Cartwright, F.tf., Whitchurch , Salop. 
On Saturday the 11th March, 184*2, the hounds turned out 
at Emral, where J. C. Etches, Esq , of Broughall House, near 
this town, went with a powerful eight-year-old horse, and had a 
run after a deer. The ground was exceedingly heavy most of the 
way, but especially so over a dug field. After the chase he arrived 
at Worthenbury. His horse was breathing rather quickly, and 
he there, for the first time, discovered that there was a peculiar 
bounding action in his near flank. He then brought him home, 
a distance of ten miles, and arrived there about six o’clock, and 
the horse commenced feeding, and looked as w T ell as usual. The 
violent action at his flank not subsiding, I was called in, and 
saw him about ten on the same night. 
Symptoms . — He had eaten a bran mash and a sufficient quan- 
tity of hay, and looked as lively as if nothing was amiss with 
him. Respiration was a little increased. On the near side, at 
about the termination of the false ribs, and about midway be- 
tween the linea alba and spine, there was that peculiar beating 
action before mentioned, and which is generally ascribed to 
spasm of the diaphragm. It was very visible to the eye, and had 
a jerking or throbbing character, but it was audible to the ear at 
