236 
DROPSY OF THE PERICARDIUM. 
cord had precisely the same appearance which it had at the time 
of castration. 
It appears, then, by this case,— 
1. That the colt will sometimes draw the spermatic cord into the 
abdominal cavity. 
2. That a considerable quantity of air will sometimes follow the 
cord. 
3. That the retention of air in the abdominal cavity will produce 
peritonitis. 
4. And it is probable that castration by the clams will not be 
followed by peritonitis. 
In my neighbourhood the clams are unknown, and are therefore 
objected to as something experimental. I am constrained to do 
without them; but I am in the habit of fixing the cord to the scro¬ 
tum by a stitch, which embraces the integument and the peritoneal 
covering of the cord. 
DROPSY OF THE PERICARDIUM, 
By Mr. PROCTOR, V.S., Solihull. 
As yet the diseases of the heart, in my humble opinion, have 
been very imperfectly understood; however, I think, I am sup¬ 
ported in this rather broad assertion from the fact, that all the 
works on the diseases of the horse which I have had an opportu¬ 
nity of reading say little, and that little is very unsatisfactory, 
regarding them; while most of them are altogether silent respect¬ 
ing these maladies. 
I confess, Mr. Pritchard, of Wolverhampton, has said more in his 
papers in The VETERINARIAN than all the works of English au¬ 
thors put together. The writings of that gentleman I always con¬ 
sider both profitable and interesting; and on the diseases of the 
heart, certainly, he has thrown much light. 
My remarks on hydrops pericardii are strictly confined to what I 
know, and from what I have gathered from very close observa¬ 
tion ; for it is only by spending much time, and examining our 
patient again and again, that a knowledge of this and other affec¬ 
tions of the heart can ever be obtained, particularly in their first 
stages. It was in this way that I first of all discovered dropsy of 
the pericardium in my patient. Perhaps if I narrate the particu¬ 
lars, it will not be amiss. 
The first patient in which I recognised this complaint was a 
fine bay mare that belonged to an attorney of this place. The 
early symptoms were, hurried breathing, quickened pulse, and 
