CALCULUS IN A HORSE. 
583 
I saw him again in the evening. The medicine had not operat¬ 
ed, though a rumbling noise was heard in his bowels. No faeces 
could be felt in the rectum—the pulse was not altered—the ears 
and extremities warm. Repeat the medicine, injection, and em¬ 
brocation. 
June 1th .—The medicine had not operated, although Mr. C. had 
given him a bottle of oil during the night. A slimy offensive 
mucus adhered to the tongue and fauces—there was constant 
turning up of the upper lip, and he was continually sitting upon his 
haunches. The ears and extremities were icy cold—immense dis¬ 
tention of the abdomen—the pulse not perceptible—and every 
symptom of approaching death. I told Mr. Compton that I had not 
the slightest doubt that the animal was suffering from a calculus or 
calculi in the intestines; a view of the case which subsequently 
proved to be correct. He soon afterwards died ; and, on examina¬ 
tion after death, the following appearances presented themselves. 
The intestines were immensely distended with air. The caecum 
did not contain a single particle of food, either in a solid or liquid 
state. At the right curvature of the colon, not far from the ensi- 
form cartilage, was a rupture, and upon the parieties of the abdo¬ 
men was lying a calculus, presenting in shape the exact appearance 
of the intestine itself at the part where it was situated. The outer 
surface of it was beautifully smooth, and resembling marble. The 
peritoneal covering, both of the intestines and of the stomach, 
pourtrayed no symptoms of inflammation, and the inner surface was 
perfectly healthy. 
The contents of the stomach, and throughout the whole course 
of the intestinal canal, until within a short distance of the place at 
which the colon terminates in the rectum, were perfectly fluid, 
shewing that the ini'dicine which had been administered had per¬ 
formed its office; but here a stop was put to its farther progress, 
for another calculus was so firmly fixed in the intestine at this part, 
as to set at nought the power of medicine and the skill of man to 
remove it. It was firmly embedded in a quantity of silicious matter, 
some portions of which were adhering to its outer surface, and 
having the appearance of small crystals of sulphate of magnesia. 
The faeces beyond this were hard and dry; but within about 
twelve or fourteen inches of the termination of the rectum was 
a patch of inflammation in the villous coat of the intestine, occa¬ 
sioned, I have no doubt, by a lump of hardened faeces which was 
deposited there. With the exception of this solitary stain, and 
where the calculi were deposited, the whole of the intestinal canal 
presented a healthy appearance. 
The diaphragm was in a complete state of emphysema. 
The liver was remarkably soft, and of a clayey hue. 
