569 
THE OPERATION OF TRACHEOTOMY IN THE 
HORSE.—UNSOLDERING OF A PORTION OF 
THE TUBE IN TWO INSTANCES. 
By J. B. Henderson, M.R.C.V.S., London. 
Dear Sir, —As you seemed to consider the circumstances 
which I mentioned to you the other day rather remarkable, 
I send you a brief account of the particulars of the cases, for 
I feel certain that every one who performs the operation of 
tracheotomy, will do well to guard against the mishaps which 
I have just experienced, by paying attention to the proper 
construction of the tube they insert into the trachea. 
The 20th of June, I performed the operation of trache¬ 
otomy on a fine, five-year old, bay cart-horse. A copious 
discharge from both nostrils soon ensued, and I made up my 
mind, on July 2nd, that I would keep the tube in two days 
longer; after which time, I thought my patient would be 
able to carry on respiration in the natural manner. 
I paid him a visit, however, the next day, and on going 
into the stable I was met by a man in a state of great ex¬ 
citement, with the tube in his hand, which he said the horse 
had just coughed up, after many violent efforts. The shoulder 
of the tube was still attached to the neck of the horse by the 
strap, and it was very evident that the statement of the man 
was true, for there were the marks of the horse’s teeth upon 
the tube. 
I confess I was rather alarmed when I began to think of 
what the consequences might have been, had the tube be¬ 
come lodged in a part where it was impossible to move it, and 
I hurried off to see another patient, in the same street; in 
fact, one upon which I had performed a similar operation 
but three days before. I examined this tube, and to all ap¬ 
pearance it was well soldered; so my fears were dispelled, 
knowing that both tubes were of the same manufacture as 
those used at the College, and, indeed, all over England. I 
therefore put down the accident as one of remarkable occur¬ 
rence, which, perhaps, had never before taken place, and 
congratulated myself upon my patient’s having relieved 
himself so easily of what might have proved a cause of death. 
Three days after, on a Sunday morning, and therefore 
more awkward on account of assistance and appliances not 
being so ready at hand, I went to see my patient No. 2, 
and to examine his neck, and I then found the shoulder of 
the instrument detached from the tube, in precisely the same 
