INTO THE LEFT JUGULAR. 
391 
vein in order to account for the death of the animal. The inter- 
nal haemorrhage was fully sufficient to explain it ; for we know 
that, under the influence of a state of haemorrhage, the blood un- 
dergoes considerable alteration. Various gases are developed and 
circulate with it, and death will ensue from the slightest cause. 
M. Amussat could not admit that the introduction of air into 
the veins, in the practice of veterinary medicine, was so rare as 
many persons had asserted. The number would be far more con- 
siderable, if the cases in which this misfortune had occurred were 
frankly avowed. The practice of M. Bouley was a sufficient 
proof of this. Enlightened by experience, surgeons no longer 
operate in the neighbourhood of the neck, without taking every 
possible precaution. There was not time at present to take into 
consideration, for the benefit of the veterinary surgeon, the pro- 
visions and the mode of operation which would prevent the dan- 
ger arising from an accident always serious, both in its nature 
and its consequences : but he would say that, in the case related 
by M. Bouley, the death of the animal was solely to be attributed 
to the presence of the air, the introduction of which was favoured 
by the intestinal haemorrhage. 
M. Bouillard thought that the case related by M. Bouley did 
not contain in it any thing unusual. 
M. Bouley reminded the meeting of that portion of the case in 
which it was stated that this accumulation of blood in the intes- 
tines existed at the time when the bleeding from the jugular was 
effected, and that the animal was destroyed by the progress of 
the intestinal haemorrhage. He did not, however, deny that the 
introduction of the air hastened the moment of death. 
Having observed, during a practice of tvvo-and-thirty years, but 
two similar cases, he thought with MM. Renault and Barthe- 
lemy, that this was an accident of exceedingly rare occurrence. 
He thought also with them, that the introduction of air into the 
veins was always more serious when the animal was previously 
ill, but he did not think that a state of disease was necessary in 
order to cause the accident to be mortal. He believed, on the con- 
trary, that, in perfectly sound animals, as in man, the accidental 
introduction of a certain quantity of air would be attended by 
the most fatal consequences. 
The opening of the dead body, which alone could give sanction 
to the facts stated by M. Ferrus, not having been made, Mr 
Bouley thought that he had a right to reject them. The elevated 
position in which the head of the horse was usually put imme- 
diately after bleeding, could not be attended by the serious conse- 
quences described by M. Ferrus, since the orifice has been closed 
