504 ON GASKOUS EFFUSION IN THE THORAX. 
considerably inflamed. The adipose membrane enclosing the 
kidnies presented the same appearance as that of the subcu¬ 
taneous cellular tissue. There was a large mass of inflated cellu¬ 
lar membrane concealing the uterus, which had to be dissected 
away before I could come at that viscus, which I found quite 
healthy. 
On removing the walls of the thorax, a large volume of air 
made its escape; the lungs were considerably collapsed, and 
engorged : thick purulent matter was found in the larger bron¬ 
chia ; the pericardium presented the same appearance as the 
cellular tissue previously described ; the heart was smaller than 
natural, and much thinner and softer in its parietes; the blood¬ 
vessels of the brain were turgid, and the plexus choroides 
slightly inflamed. 
At times this gaseous inflation is present in the human subject, 
and is suppossed to take place spontaneously; but, according to 
the opinion of Dr. Baillie, it is a secretion from the bloodvessels, 
or it may come from a rupture of the mucous membrane of the 
trachea. It frequently occurs after violent efforts, particularly 
in puerperal women. May not this have arisen from the same 
cause, or from a lesion in the lungs? but there was not any 
perceptible lesion here. If I may be allowed to draw a conclu¬ 
sion, my opinion would be, that it is most analagous to 
pneumatosis spontanea, class cachexies, order intumesceriticc of 
Cullen. 
NEW TREATMENT OF SPLINTS. 
Bi/ William Sewell, Bsq., Assistant Professor, Tloyal 
Veterinary College. 
It is several months since I introduced a new operation for 
curing lamenesses in the horse, generally caused by contusions 
which occasion periosteal and ossific diseases. The morbid 
growth of bone is so rapid, that the inelastic periosteum cannot 
accommodate itself to the osseous deposit: hence distention, in¬ 
flammation, pain, and lameness. The ordinary treatment often 
fails, or is tedious and uncertain in its results. Of the old 
practice of firing, applying caustics, puncturing, bruising, blister¬ 
ing, or other stimulants, I had long observed the inefficacy, 
and for several years I had employed setons beneficially, but I 
now invariably adopt the new plan. 
The most considerable class of these lamenesses are those 
resulting from nodes or ossifications, called splints. The ope- 
