RUPTURED STOMACH OF A HORSE. 
453 
ever, informed by the man in attendance that he had done so 
in the morning, and when at work he tried to urinate, but 
failed. 1 immediately back-raked him, and explored the 
bladder, which viscus I found empty. Gave Aloes Bar- 
badoes, 5yj; Opium et Hydrarg. Chlorid., aa, 3ij in ball, 
repeated the antispasmodic draught, and stimulated the 
abdomen with compound liniment of ammonia. He refuses 
to drink any water. 
5 p.m.—Animal still in great pain ; draught repeated. 
7 p.m.—Returning, I found my patient still in great pain, 
and was informed that he had been so ever since I left, 
not the slightest relief being given by the antispasmodic 
draughts; the pulse was now 66 in the minute. I gave 
sulphuric ether, fBj ; tincture of opium, f^j ; spirit of nitric 
ether, fjj, and threw up an enema of soap and warm water, 
which quickly returned, slightly discoloured ; I also applied 
Ibiss of mustard, in the form of poultice, to the abdomen. 
10 p.m.—The breathing has become quicker, and the 
pulse 84 in the minute. He is still in pain; at times he is 
drowsy, but only for a few seconds, and the visible mucous 
membranes are injected. I did not perceive him to be more 
easy in any particular position ; he stood but little. I gave 
another enema, and resolved to sit up all night with my 
patient. 
12 o’clock.—Pulse 90, and weak; animal still in great 
pain. Repeated the calomel and opium in ball, and also the 
enema. 
2 a.m.—Upon my entering the box, I found my patient 
down ; he rose partially upon his fore legs, gave an occasional 
look back at his flanks, and, by frequent curling of the tail, 
indicated internal pain. I could not perceive any swelling or 
irritation from the mustard. From this time he rose upon 
his legs, never after to lie down until he dropped aud died. 
There were, before this took place, spasmodic twitchings of 
the muscles of the neck, breast, and flanks, with an occa¬ 
sional effort made to vomit, resulting in the escape of a little 
watery fluid from the nostrils; the pulse was hard and wiry, 
very difficult to count, it being intermittent; the eyes were 
bright; the surface of the body cool. 
My prognosis was, of course, unfavorable, and I diagnosed 
the case to be one of rupture of some portion of the abdo¬ 
minal viscera, or the existence of some mechanical obstruc¬ 
tion. But as life still remained, struggling against death, 
and it being our duty to do everything for the relief of an 
animal’s sufferings when submitted to our care, I gave a dose 
of castor oil, repeated the enema, hand-rubbed the ears, 
