ON PARACENTESIS THORACIS. 
181 
After this she did duty in the regiment, and was in perfect 
health for eight years, during the greater part of which she was 
ridden by a serjeant. 
CASE II. 
1837. June 1st .—A bay troop horse, seven years old, and in 
good condition, was attacked with inflammation of the lungs. 
The pulse was 69, and the breathing quick. Six quarts of blood 
were abstracted, and a bolus, consisting of two drachms of Cape 
aloes and half an ounce of the nitrate of potass, was exhibited. 
2d .—He appears to be no better, and the pulse is oppressed and 
irregular. I took away five quarts of blood, inserted a rowel in 
the chest, and blistered both it and the sides. I also ordered a 
drachm of tartar emetic, two drachms of the nitrate of potass, 
and half a drachm of digitalis, to be given three times a day. 
3^/ and 4th .—He is a little better, and the respiration is more 
tranquil. The medicine was directed to be repeated. 
5th, 6th, and 7th. The pulse is 48, the breathing is natural, 
and he eats grass and bran mashes. The medicine was repeated 
as before. 
8th .—He is not so well; the pulse and breathing are more 
rapid, and he does not feed so well. Being afraid, from symp¬ 
toms which it is unnecessary to mention, that the affection would 
terminate in hydrothorax, I gave night and morning half an 
ounce of the nitrate of potass, besides a drachm of gentian, two 
drachms of cascarilla bark, a drachm of capsicum, and a drachm 
of ginger, three times a day, as a tonic. 
Sth .—He was no better, and the medicines were ordered to be 
continued. 
10th .—The pulse was 70, the breathing rapid, and the appe¬ 
tite gone. From a variety of symptoms, I was induced to con¬ 
clude that effusion into the thorax had taken place. I therefore 
operated in the same manner as 1 stated in the case detailed 
above, and withdrew in a full stream from the right side five 
quarts of fluid, while I obtained only about a wineglass-full from 
the left. I directed a drachm of gentian, a drachm of ginger, and 
the same quantity of capsicum, with two drachms of cascarilla 
bark, to be given every four hours; and half an ounce of the ni¬ 
trate of potass night and morning. About half an hour after 
the operation, he appeared to be much better, and began to feed. 
11th .—He is much better, and the breathing is free. Tlie medi¬ 
cines were ordered to be continued as before. 
