VETERINARY SCHOOL AT LYONS. 113 
ness in performing this operation, at Mezieux, near Lyons (the 
department of LTsere), had a young horse which died suddenly 
after the removal of the first testicle. With the design of shel¬ 
tering himself from any judicial proceeding which the proprietor 
of the horse might institute against him, this man sent for some 
of the pupils of our school, who immediately proceeded to the 
place and opened the carcass. 
The belly was excessively distended, although only twelve 
hours had elapsed since death; and they found the stomach 
ruptured towards its smaller curvature, and the diaphragm tom 
on the right side at its fleshy part. The latter laceration had not 
given place to any bleeding; the edges were not at all tumefied, 
the torn fibres were irregular, parted into unequal masses, and 
their colour was the same as that of the surrounding parts. 
These last cases of rupture of the diaphragm, perfectly similar 
in anatomical description to those which follow after death, and 
in consequence of distention of the intestines, appear to us to 
require strict attention from all veterinarians who may be called 
to give evidence on any trials that have reference to the death of 
a horse; and ought to render them very circumspect in the judg¬ 
ment they give as to the cause of death. Although we may be 
persuaded that they are the result of excessive distention of the 
intestinal tube, by the expansion of the gas which is contained in 
it, yet our conviction cannot be definitely established without 
more examinations of facts of the same nature; and our judg¬ 
ment should be founded on the practice of experienced veterinary 
surgeons and observers, who will enter into these facts without 
prejudice, and regard only the interests of science. 
7. Eighteen horses have been treated for the affection vul¬ 
garly called staggers: of these, sixteen were geldings, and two 
mares. Six of them were from ten to fifteen years old, and 
twelve from four to ten years old. Five only of these animals 
were cured. The duration of the disease in those that died was 
from twelve hours to four days. Those who were cured, and did 
not suffer any relapse, remained in the infirmary from six to 
twelve days. 
The periods when this affection made its appearance were 
