A CASE OF EXTENSIVE (EDEMATOUS SWELLING 
IN A MARE. 
[Communicated by Mr. Cowie, being an Extract from a Letter 
from his Brother , at Hackerton.’] 
I beg to relate to you an extraordinary case of swelling in 
the belly of a mare belonging to Mr. Barclay, an extensive 
Angus-shire farmer. 
The mare was in foal at the time the swelling commenced, 
previous to which she had been worked at common farm work, 
without receiving, as far as is known, any injury. The swelling 
was first seen about fourteen days before she foaled, which con¬ 
tinued increasing during that period over all the belly, until it ar¬ 
rived at such an enormous size as nearly to prevent her walking. 
The foal was very large, but died at two days old, as was sup¬ 
posed from the milk of the diseased mother. 
Mr. Barclay’s farrier knew nothing of, and would do nothing 
to, the disease, until a congregation and consultation of his bro¬ 
ther “ craftsmen” was appointed, which accordingly took place ; 
and after a series of conflicting opinions had been expressed, they 
came to the conclusion “ that the swelling was either a coming 
down of the intestines or an extravasation of the milk, but whe¬ 
ther among the muscles or in the skin they did not know.” 
A cure was next thought about. A bandage was applied 
tightly round the belly, and physic given; but neither had any 
good effect. A rowel was then put in about the middle of the 
belly, from which a copious discharge proceeded, and reduced 
the swelling about two-thirds, principally anteriorly to the rowel. 
The swelling still remaining was punctured, and a good deal of 
bloody-like water came from the wound, which made the farriers 
believe that the disease proceeded at first from the rapture of a 
bloodvessel; and they are still of the same opinion. 
The effect of the rowel having enabled the mare to walk pretty 
freely, she was put to gentle work, and has continued ever since, 
being now nearly six weeks, during which time the swelling has 
rather increased than decreased, and it is at this present time, 
I am sure, the size of a man’s body, being altogether on the 
posterior part of the belly. 
