408 
LACEllATION OF THE RECTUM. 
At this stage of the business, the farrier, as if anxious to agree 
with my opinion upon the nature and termination of the disease, 
stated that he had observed some blood to have come from the 
rectum, following an injection he had given. Blood !’^ I ex¬ 
claimed, “ blood}!”—“ Yes, sir.’^ Are you sure ?” I repeated.— 
** Look, here is some of it,’’ answered he, pointing to the floor. 
‘‘Oh! Oh! you gave two injections, did you? Did any blood 
come away with the first?”—“No.” “You have not back- 
raked him, have you?”—“Yes.” “Well, I will see the cause 
of this,” stooping to examine the rectum ; and what did I find ? 
why, a laceration in that intestine, through which my hand 
could pass. “ There may well have been blood,” said I; “ why, 
the rectum is torn,'^ 
Withdrawing my hand, and addressing the owner, I begged 
to have him immediately destroyed, which was promptly con¬ 
ceded ; and the poor animal was led trembling from the box, to 
receive the last act of kindness that could now be performed. 
I remained to make a post-mortem examination, which was as 
follows:—On removing the abdominal muscles, the peritoneum 
lining them was found to be inflamed through its whole extent; 
the intestinal portion was most highly injected, approaching a 
scarlet colour, and deeper in some places than others. On turn¬ 
ing these aside the omentum was found very much thickened, 
of a brown colour, having evidently been, as well as the liver, af¬ 
fected with chronic disease. 
Mr. S-afterwards informed me that this horse, about two 
years ago, fell away very much in condition. He continued to feed 
well, and presented to the owner no other appearance of disease 
than evident wasting. A run at grass was given to him, and he 
shortly regained his usual condition, strength, and liveliness. 
When again taken to his former work, he would frequently, after 
being driven and pulled up, stand as if preparing to void urine. 
This was not much regarded; but it seems from the above ab¬ 
normal appearances to have been connected with the chronic 
affection of the omentum and liver. 
The stomach was next examined ; it was distended partly with 
gas, but principally with food, which, on opening this viscus, 
was found to consist of unmasticated oats and beans. It is 
worthy of note that he had taken no food since the afternoon of 
the previous day. 
Extending the examination along the intestinal tube, the small 
intestines, but particularly the ileum, here and there contained a 
quantity of the same unmasticated, undigested, unassimilated 
lood, especially at its further extremity, or where it terminates in 
the colon. At this part was the principal obstruction ; for here it 
