380 
ON BACK-RAKING. 
nut, consisting of sand and chicken- weed, compressed together into 
a very hard body, of the above-mentioned form. 
About six months ago I was called to a horse, the property of 
Thomas Brehant, Esq., of this island. Mr. Brehant thought the 
symptoms very slight and scarcely worth noticing, and would not 
believe me when I declared I could do nothing for him. I described 
the case to Mr. Magrath, the medical gentleman who attended Mr. 
Brehant’s family. The horse died soon afterwards, and, upon 
examination, the correctness of the opinion I had given was esta- 
blished. The kidneys were diseased, the left one was disorganized, 
and about three times its natural size. When I first called to see 
the horse, I was led to suspect where the disease lay, from the 
peculiar manner in which he drew the near hind leg after him. I 
introduced my hand up the rectum, and immediately discovered its 
seat. Had I not done this I should have gone on in the dark ; for 
although the symptoms led to a knowledge of the complaint, I could 
not otherwise have discovered the extent of it. 
By this method I saved the life of a colt belonging to Mr. W. 
Brice, of this island. This animal had been castrated by ligature, 
and through violent struggling the ligature came away. Every 
means were resorted to in order to stop the haemorrhage, but in 
vain. I then introduced my hand up the rectum, and, by pressure 
on the abdominal aorta, stopped the bleeding. 
Only a few days ago I was called to a horse whose state, at the 
time I first saw him, and the results consequent on my treatment, 
illustrate the propriety and efficacy of the method I respectfully 
but earnestly urge on the attention of the profession. The horse 
was brought to me evidently suffering from constipation of the 
bowels. With the two-fold view of guarding against the inflam- 
matory action, and also relaxing the bowels, I bled him freely, 
and, moreover, administered a full dose of aloes. I did not see the 
horse for two days : but then I was sent for in consequence of the 
alarming symptoms which were exhibited. I soon perceived that 
I had more than an ordinary case of obstruction to deal with, and 
intimated my apprehensions to the parties, who were the more 
anxious as to the fate of the horse, having some time before lost 
a bullock from empirical treatment. 
The appearance of the horse, and the stratagems to which he 
had recourse to obtain relief from the anguish he experienced, 
while they supported the conclusions I was led to draw, in a re- 
markable manner illustrated the power of instinct. Such was 
the pressure on the bladder, that it could hardly retain the urine, 
which was consequently voided at very short intervals. In order 
to avoid the pressure of the thigh on the part affected, he raised it 
