546 
WOUND OF THE THORAX. 
for copious venesection in tetanus would take into consideration 
the dribbling from a blister. But setting aside the question of 
the efficacy or non-efficacv of counter-irritants in such a situation, 
I do not altogether see their expediency. I may be told, perhaps, 
that a post-mortem examination shews us the medulla spinalis*or 
its membranes in an inflamed state : I grant that such an appear¬ 
ance is observed, but it is not invariably the case, and in the great 
majority of instances the inflammation is very slight, and we look 
upon it rather as a consequence than as a cause of the disease, for I 
do not know that any artificial inflammation of that part will pro¬ 
duce tetanus. If, then, inflammation of the medulla spinalis or its 
membranes be not a necessary accompaniment or cause of tetanus, 
and if it be only occasionally present, I respectfully submit to 
the consideration of the profession, whether it be advisable to 
apply counter-irritants along the spine, and thereby further irritate 
an animal already in a highly irritable state, and for whose reco¬ 
very quietude and freedom from disturbance are almost essen¬ 
tially requisite. I have not had sufficient opportunity of noticing 
minutely the direct effect of this practice, but it certainly does 
not appear to me to be of that great importance in the treatment 
of tetanus which it is deemed by many; in fact, I cannot help 
thinking that in many cases it retards, and in none, facilitates the 
recovery of the patient. 
It was my intention to have made a few remarks on the prac¬ 
tice of purgation and venesection, but I feel I should be intruding 
further than the occasion warrants; I will therefore conclude by 
expressing a hope, that what I have said may not be deemed the 
offspring of presumption. 
London, Sept. 15, 1831. 
SINGULAR PENETRATION IN THE THORACIC 
CAVITY OF A COW. 
Communicated by Charles Chaplin, Esq., Croydon . 
To the Editors of u The Veterinarian ” 
Gentlemen, 
About the beginning of last month I perceived a very favourite 
cow of mine to look very dull and heavy, and evidently labouring 
under considerable pain ; and upon a close examination of her, 
I perceived a small piece of wood protruding from her chest; and 
conceiving this to be merely a common splinter, I attempted to 
remove it with a pair of pincers, but finding the resistance much 
greater than I expected, and, upon a more minute examination, 
