CASES OF TRACHEOTOMY. 
691 
noise she made in respiration could be heard above a hundred 
yards. She was lively and hearty; and being induced, from the 
circumstances, to suspect some disease or obstruction of the 
larynx, I agreed to take charge of the case, and had her slowly 
led to town. The journey occupied nearly a whole day, and 
caused so much distress, that I thought it necessary to take a 
gallon of blood immediately she got in; and, during the night, 
her breathing became so difficult, that I was hastily obliged to 
perform the operation of bronchotomy, which gave instant re¬ 
lief, and confirmed my opinion of the complaint. A tin canula, 
which I afterwards improved by the addition of a proper flap, 
was inserted, and kept in the orifice of the trachea by stitches in 
the skin of the neck, which I then and since have found prefer¬ 
able to any other plan of retaining it. After a few days, by the 
use of depletives and mild treatment, she began to breathe again 
through her nostrils, and the canula was laid aside; but being in¬ 
judiciously exercised and trotted fast, by the owner, during my 
absence, all the bad symptoms returned, and it became necessary 
to reinsert the canula with fresh sutures, which occasioned a thicken¬ 
ing and irritation around the part: thus the case stood for above a 
month after this relapse without amendment, but her appetite 
was good and spirits cheerful; she became quite in good condi¬ 
tion, and took walking exercise. At length the skin around the 
orifice in the windpipe was so destroyed by the sutures, that I 
was forced to employ other means to keep in the canula, which 
by accident falling out in the stable one afternoon, caused suffo¬ 
cation within an hour after she had been seen alive and as usual. 
On examination there appeared a general ossification of the 
thyroid, cricoid, and aretynoid cartilages, so as to form a com¬ 
plete unyielding fixture of the glottis; the lining membrane also 
being so inflamed and thickened, that not even a quill could be 
thrust through the passage. 
Observations .—I consider it probable that this disease had been 
brought on by the improper use of the bearing rein confining 
the parts during violent action. It had certainly been slowly in¬ 
duced, and increased at the time of her illness, before she came 
into my hands. I have preserved the strictured parts carefully, 
and their appearance satisfactorily proves that it was an incurable 
local affection. 
CASE II, 
A bay mare, five years old, had been laid by in a loose box 
in my own stables for several days, on account of a swelled 
leg and appearance of the grease, having previously been in hard 
work. About two weeks ago she was very suddenly attacked 
