ON PARACENTESIS THORACIS. 
179 
On its first introduction into veterinary surgery, the unsuccess¬ 
ful cases so far outnumbered the successful, that more cautious 
veterinarians were inclined to abandon it altogether. No doubt 
cases will occur, in which the most judicious treatgient will be of 
no avail. But I cannot help attributing many of the unsuccess¬ 
ful cases of paracentesis thoracis which I have read and witness¬ 
ed to the operation having been too long delayed, or to neglecting 
or not pushing to a sufficient length the tonic plan of treatment. 
In ordinary cases, by performing the operation early, and sup¬ 
porting the strength of the patient, its chance of success might 
be tenfold increased. I speak advisedly ; and having been up¬ 
wards of twenty-four years in regimental practice, 1 have had 
ample opportunity of forming my opinion from observation and 
experience. 
With the view of recommending the operation to those whom 
the many failures of it may have rendered sceptical of its merits, 
I beg leave to detail the following cases :— 
CASE I. 
1826, August 9th ,—A bay troop mare, six years old and in 
high condition, was attacked with inflammation of the lungs, ac¬ 
companied with great rapidity of pulse and respiration. Eight 
quarts of blood were immediately abstracted, and a bolus consist¬ 
ing of three drachms of Cape aloes, half an ounce of the nitrate of 
potass, and one drachm of tartarized antimony, was exhibited. 
Three hours after the bleeding respiration became more natural. 
10//i.—The pulse is 70, and oppressed ; respiration as hurried 
as when first seen, and the extremities cold. Five quarts of blood 
were withdrawn, and a drachm of tartarized antimony, with half 
a drachm of digitalis, and two drachms of the nitrate of potass 
were directed to be given three times a day. The sides and chest 
were blistered, and the legs bandaged. On visiting her an hour 
after the bleeding, she appeared to be better, ami the breathing 
was more natural. 
\Yth .—The pulse is quick and indistinct, but the breathing 
natural. She has eaten a little grass. The medicine was or¬ 
dered to be repeated, as well as the blisters to the sides and chest, 
and the legs to be kept warm with hand-rubbing and bandaging. 
\2lh .—She has eaten two or three pounds of grass. The symp¬ 
toms remaining much the same as yesterday, the medicine was 
continued. 
\Ath, and 15//i.—The pulse fell to 46, and she continued 
to improve and feed tolerably well on bran and grass. Three 
drachms of cascarilla powder, with two drachms of nitrate of 
