406 
FATAL LACERATION OF THE RECTUM. 
Mr. Editor, 
If you think the following case worthy of a place in The 
Veterinarian, it is much at your service for insertion. 
Your’s, &c. 
John Percivall. 
ON Monday, 29th September, 1828, at six o’clock p.m. a brown 
gelding was brought to the Infirmary, having had one of the 
shafts (the near one) of a six-pounder gun-carriage, during ma- 
noeuvering in the field, forced up the rectum, to the extent, I found 
on examination, of about eighteen inches. The horse was rode 
by a trumpeter, who, not being aware of the accident, urged the 
animal forward, for several yards, with the shaft thrust into his 
body. It was at length withdrawn, but with considerable diffi¬ 
culty. At the time the horse was brought and put into a loose 
box, he expressed great irritation: pulse small, respiration hur¬ 
ried, dullness of the eyes, extremities cold; lies down in the box. 
Ordered to be raked, and an enema exhibited; clothing, flannel 
bandages to the extremities; bran mashes, linseed drinks. 
Ten o’clock P.M. —The animal manifests extreme pain; paw¬ 
ing his litter, lying down and rising at short intervals, profuse 
sweats: pulse quick and small. V. S. Ifevj ; enema repeated, with 
ol. olivar. 3iv; infus. lini. flbviij stimulants to the abdomen. 
Twelve o’clock p.m. —The symptoms in no way abated; enema 
repeated, and stimulants to the abdomen. No faeces have passed. 
Tuesday, September ZOth, nine o’clock a.m. —The horse con¬ 
tinues in great pain, pawing the litter, lying down with his head 
drawn to the belly, rising occasionally, profuse perspiration, pulse 
quick and small. Ordered to lose fevj of blood ; enema conti¬ 
nued, with external stimulants to the belly and legs. Apparently 
somewhat relieved throughout the day. 
Wednesday .—No evacuation of feces or urine, though efforts 
are made to void the latter. The bladder has been examined 
per rectum: is found collapsed. Three drachms of aloes given, 
with 3fs tereb. Drinks ordered, consisting of equal portions of 
linseed tea and oatmeal gruel, of which he took copiously. 
Thursdai/ the 2d .—On my visit this morning at eight, I de¬ 
spaired of my patient: his sufferings are almost indescribable. 
The expressions of pain most intense—pulse 100, thready, 
small; respiration greatly accelerated ; languor in his eyes ; extre¬ 
mities stone cold ; frequent but fruitless efforts made to stale; up 
and down every minute in the stall; profuse cold sweats. The 
