TAPPING FOR HYDROTHOUAX IN THE HORSE. 331 
dressed, small doses of the chloride of mercury, with sulphate of 
iron, given daily, and a liberal diet; and, for a few days, all 
seemed to be going on well : gradually, however, all the before- 
mentioned symptoms returned, although certainly not so rapidly 
as at first. 
On the 2d of October, Mr. Jackson and myself came to the 
conclusion that it would be advisable to tap him again. I did 
so, and got half a pailful of fluid of the same character as before, 
being half the quantity obtained on the previous tapping. I left 
the orifice open, and fluid escaped in a small dribbling quantity 
from six o’clock in the evening until ten at night. The same re- 
lief was obtained as before, and all seemed again to go on favour- 
ably. Again, however, the symptoms returned, and effusion was 
evident, although certainly not even so rapidly as on the second 
time of tapping ; however, on the 14th of October, we again 
considered there was sufficient water to warrant the operation, 
which was done, and about half a pailful was taken from the 
right side. The same relief was obtained ; but the animal’s ap- 
petite began to fail — he got thinner. The owner now got tired 
of him, and all at once sold him to a farmer, who turned him out 
in a field to take his chance, and he was soon found dead in a 
field. I very much regret that I was unable to obtain a post- 
mortem examination. I had no chance of seeing it ; but I am 
convinced, in my own mind, that had tapping been had recourse 
to earlier, the case would have stood a chance of doing well ; and 
even as it was, had it been persevered in, I should have been 
sanguine of success : so far as present recovery went, the quan- 
tity of fluid lessened at each tapping and at much longer in- 
tervals between the operations. No inflammation followed the 
operation ; on the contrary the greatest relief was manifested every 
time. However, facts are facts, and all our efforts failed ; but I 
should not hesitate a moment to tap again under the same cir- 
cumstances ; and am convinced that many an animal’s life might 
be saved by doing so. It is the time of doing it, I think, wherein 
rests the great secret of success ; and I have not a doubt in my 
own mind, that had Mr. Taplin’s horse been operated on a few 
days earlier, it would have done well. I very much lament not 
being able now to give a more detailed account, and especially 
of the post-mortem appearances. I much wished to ascertain 
in what condition the lungs were; but I had no chance of doing 
so, and regrets are useless. 
