ON BACK-UAKING. 
381 
by holding up the leg ; and, being unable to maintain that position 
without additional support, he placed his head under it, which 
enabled him to continue in the attitude essential to his relief. 
After having administered other purgative medicines, followed up 
by a plentiful administration of chilled water, and injections 
with Reed’s pump, I introduced the arm up the rectum, and, hav- 
ing reached the given point, I worked my hand in such a manner 
as to cause a change in the position and form of the mass within 
the gut in which it was locked up ; soon after which the bowel, 
by its natural effort, was enabled to expel the accumulation, that 
had previously pressed as a dead weight on the pelvis. That 
removed, the horse immediately shewed symptoms of returning 
health, and is now at his regular work, and perfectly well. 
In fine, convinced from the many successful results to which I 
have submitted this test, I am anxious to recommend it to more 
general application. I feel justified in placing unreserved con- 
fidence in its fitness and efficiency ; and, far from shunning the 
scrutiny of the profession, I would rather invite it. Let my mode 
of proceeding be compared with the measures usually adopted un- 
der similar circumstances, and even under the impression of the 
professional superiority of many of my brethren, I neither doubt 
nor fear the result of a rigid comparison. 
As a means of instituting such a comparison, I may here allude to 
what 1 witnessed about two years since at the Royal Veterinary 
College. The patient, a grey horse, had been under the care of Mr. 
Sibbald, and the operation to be performed was that for the scirr- 
hous cord, — every thing that science or experience could suggest 
or dictate was attempted, but in vain. I ought in candour to 
allow, that the plan I now suggest did not then occur to myself ; 
but it is very evident, as has already been shewn in the case of 
Mr. Brice’s colt above described, that had the hand been intro- 
duced up the rectum, and pressure been applied on the abdominal 
aorta, or the iliac artery, there would have been some chance of 
saving the horse. 
My long practice would enable me to multiply cases in support 
of the object I have in view, but fearing I have already extended 
my remarks beyond the limits you wish your correspondents to 
observe, I now conclude. 
3 E 
VOL. Xll. 
