INTO THE LEFT JUGULAR. 
389 
the surface of the brain contained a great number of globules, 
which by a little pressure could be made to pass along the vein 
that contained them. The same phenomenon was observed in 
the veins of the cerebellum. Some small globules were also seen 
in the vessels of the plexus choroides. 
It appears then that, beside the lesions that ordinarily deter- 
mine the introduction of air into the veins, there existed in this 
animal evident traces of intestinal apoplexy, complicated with 
peritonitis. 
This last affection — intestinal apoplexy — which the horsemen 
of former days designated by the name of red colic, is frequent in 
the horse, and always mortal when it is carried to the degree and 
extent in which it was here found, that is to say, when a great 
quantity of blood exists between the parietes of the intestines. 
Every thing induces us to believe that in this case the flow of 
blood into the intestines occurred a little w 7 hile after the appear- 
ance of the first symptoms. The violent colic under which the 
animal appeared to labour renders this probable. It is, however, 
impossible for me to say any thing precise or conclusive in this 
case, but I cannot help believing that this affection existed at the 
time when the animal was first brought to me. The lesions 
found on opening the abdomen leave no doubt about this. 
But let us see what it was that actually destroyed the horse, 
and what were the circumstances that occasioned or favoured 
the entrance of air into the jugular vein. 
Although the presence of air in the circulatory current had 
determined these instantaneous and fearful phenomena in the 
mare — although this fluid had been found not only in the cavi- 
ties of the heart and the greater part of the veins, the animal 
having lived seven hours after the accident — the intestinal apo- 
plexy appears to me to have been the actual cause of death. As 
to the accidental introduction of air into the jugular vein, it can 
be easily imagined that it is favoured, and even strongly deter- 
mined by the state of almost emptiness in which the vessels 
were found, in consequence of the intestinal haemorrhage at the 
very time that I effected the bleeding. 
Although this explanation of the matter appears to me to be a 
very rational one, 1 would, in order to render it more satisfactory, 
appeal to an honourable member of this Academy, who is now 
present, and to whom science is indebted for a valuable work on 
the introduction of blood into the veins, and who has laid it down 
as a principle that, “in surgical operations, the introduction of 
air into the veins is to be feared, in proportion as the patient has 
been weakened by loss of blood.” 
VOL. XIV. 3 E 
