94 
CASE OF ANEURISM. 
that the most probable cause was the rupture of some small blood¬ 
vessel, at the time of foaling; and prevailed upon him to allow 
me to open her, in order to ascertain the cause of her death. 
On opening the pelvis mv conjectures were realized, as the ca¬ 
vity was filled with extravasated blood; and, on further investi¬ 
gation, I found the uterine artery on the off side ruptured. I 
then dissected a portion of the internal iliac artery from the pel¬ 
vis with the uterine, and discovered an aneurism half an inch from 
its being given off by the internal iliac. The dilatation of the 
coats of the artery commenced abruptly at the superior part of 
the tumour, and formed a sac, measuring three inches in length 
and an inch and a half in diameter, gradually returning at the 
inferior part to the natural calibre of the artery. The aneurism 
was oblong and rather tortuous, which gave it a considerable con¬ 
vexity, where it had a rupture two inches long. The internal 
coat appeared healthy for the eighth of an inch in width, and on 
each side of the healthy part it was formed into rugae for about 
the fourth of an inch, where it became reticular, and had the 
appearance of a deposition of a bony or earthy matter. 
Reflections .—With the causes, symptoms, and progress of 
aneurism, we are not satisfactorily acquainted. I know of no 
author, except Mr. W. Percivall, who has given any account of 
them # . I am well aware that they will not yield to any known 
remedy in the present state of our art; but when we reflect on 
their fatal consequences, I trust it will be a sufficient apology for 
my laying this before the members of our humble profession. It 
is only by faithfully recording such cases that w r e can arrive at 
that knowledge w r hich may ultimately lead to some useful amend¬ 
ment in our practice. 
I am very glad to observe the success of your publication ; and 
do sincerely hope that its pages may continue to teem with such 
new and useful matter, as may refute that absurd doctrine— 
“ the diseases of the horse are few, easily comprehended, and 
well understood and stimulate us to call forth every latent 
power of genius and application, in order to rescue our profession 
from that thraldom of ignorance which has, for so many years, 
kept us in degradation; and, finally, fix it upon a basis which 
cannot be shaken by calumny, or usurped by dishonourable men. 
* A case of aneurism of the aorta, taken from the French, is given at 
page 48 of our first volume ; and an interesting paper on aneurism will be 
found at page 234 of the same volume.— Edit. 
