EPIDEMIC DISEASE IN CATTLE. 
629 
Fourthly, Suppose a portion of the nerve was included in the 
ligature, is it probable that any bad effects would result from 
this? 
I subscribe myself, 
Respected Sir, yours, &c. 
Professor Dick in reply to Mr. Brotherton. 
Dear Sir, — The case you describe is a very interesting one, 
from the curious manner in which it was treated in the early 
stage of the disease, and the pathological doctrines advanced in 
connexion with it. Your account of the phlebotomy reminds me 
of a case which occurred a good many years ago. An old farrier 
sent one of his journeymen to bleed a cow, who set about the 
operation in due form. Having passed a cord round the neck 
before operating, he desired a looker on to “ baud (hold) the basin,” 
when smack went the fleam into the windpipe. Some air, but no 
blood came. The operation being again and again repeated, with 
the same previous preparation and instructions, and the same 
result, the operator gravely remarked, it was “ nae use trying 
ony mair, as there was naething but wind in her.” 
It appears to me that bleeding was not required in the case at 
all; if otherwise, the wound in the pastern would not have been of 
so much consequence. Be that as it may, it is clear that an ar- 
tery had been divided, whence the coagulum had been formed by 
the effusion of blood into the surrounding parts, which the blister 
had increased, as “the wound had almost healed” by adhesion. 
If it had been left to itself, absorption of the clot would most 
likely have taken place, otherwise suppuration ; there would not, 
however, have been much danger of secondary haemorrhage ; but 
as the tumour was pulsating when Mr. B. was called, before the 
clot was removed, it was almost sure to have broken out again ; 
and I should have expected that to have taken place as soon as 
the clot was removed. 
Had pressure been then applied, it would have had a good 
chance of preventing the haemorrhage ; but after the bleeding 
had weakened the living powers, it was not likely to succeed. 
The fibrin of the blood had, in a great degree, escaped by the 
bleeding, and the tonicity of the vessels would also be in a great 
measure destroyed ; the only chance, therefore, of success was 
the tying of the artery ; and as the bleeding vessel could not be 
got at, it is evident that the trunk of the vessel must, in that 
case, be tied at the nearest point to the wound, in order to be 
secure. 
There is always danger of the parts supplied by a large artery 
