PARALYSIS OF THE RECTUM IN A MARE. 
683 
have been found cause enough of the effects exhibited before death 
in the form of inflammation and effusion. Such, however, I have 
uniformly found to a greater or less extent. 
If this be the case, what becomes of the theory of “ Disease of 
the motor-organic nerves,” &c. &c. 1 
You have heard from me before on this subject, when I stated 
that other diseases were often mistaken for this disease ; and, to the 
present time, I do not think that the characteristic symptoms, or 
the cause of this fatal malady, have been well defined. Who will 
next attempt the task 1 
As to treatment, I shall be as short as Mr. Tombs, who, no 
doubt, did right, or, at any rate, probably could not have saved 
either patient ; but as the butcher had to do with them, I suppose 
that the flesh was eaten. Was there any reason why it should 
not be in these and similar cases in which it is desirable to make 
the best of a loss, or to save a part 1 I should like to know the 
opinions of others on the matter. 
Yours, &c. 
A Veterinary Surgeon. 
CASE OF PARALYSIS OF THE RECTUM IN A MARE. 
By Mr. G. M. Marshall, York . 
Having read a case by Mr. Daws, in the June number of The 
Veterinarian, of paralysis of the rectum, I send you another 
very similar to it, except that it was a fatal one. 
Feb. 28^A, 1838. — A bay mare, aged, had been running as a 
wheeler in the Manchester day-coach during a fortnight. The 
horse-keeper complained that, for the last three or four days, she 
could not stale properly. She was now sent to us for examination. 
Symptoms . — She makes frequent attempts to void her urine, 
but a very small portion only can be evacuated at a time. Some 
faeces pass from her involuntarily whenever the rectum becomes 
much distended, the remainder having to be removed by the hand, 
after which the sphincter ani remains partially relaxed. The 
motion of the tail is entirely lost. The pulse is 84, and she is 
frequently looking round at the flanks. She does not evince any 
pain when pressure is applied to the loins or sacrum, nor is there 
any lateral motion of the hind quarters. 
Cause . — -Not known. Probably she has either fallen backward, 
or received a violent blow on the croup. 
Treatment . — Venesection lbs. x. Laxative medicines, enemas, se- 
tons and mustard cataplasms over the loins and sacrum, fresh sheep- 
skins over the lines and croup, and the introduction of a bougie, 
