130 
CASE OF SOFTENING OF THE LIVEll. 
always been doing his work well: being, in fact, the favourite of 
the stable. On the 22d ult., two days after he was last hunted, 
he became lame, while out exercising, on the off fore leg, without 
any apparent cause. On examination by the groom, when 
returned to the stables, he found a swelling midway between the 
knee and elbow*joints. He administered a dose of physic, of 
3iv of aloes; fomentation; and poulticed the part. The 
swelling subsided, and the lameness became less. On the 
evening of the 28th he shewed symptoms of colic; for which 
he had given him tincture opii §j; spirit, aether, nitrici Jij. 
He presently became easy, and was left for the night. The 
following morning he had not eaten his mash, nor any of his 
hay; but appeared very dull, and had not passed any faeces. 
The groom now considered the horse was ill, and would have 
sent for advice ; but the owner being from home, and expected 
hourly, he thought he would wait until he returned. At 
4 P.M. he arrived home, and I was immediately requested to 
attend, when I found the following 
Symptoms. —Anxious countenance; standing with his head 
hanging pendulous in the corner; pulse 85, weak, and easily 
compressed; respiration but slightly accelerated ; ears, face, and 
extremities deathy cold; conjunctiva bloodless; nasal lining 
quite pale; buccal membrane blanched, and of a yellow tinge; 
breath offensive ; and on pressing the right side he evinced 
pain. His bowels have not acted since the previous evening. 
On elevating the head he became distressed; does not like to be 
moved ; sighed twice. The esquire being present, my opinion 
was immediately inquired for. Taking the symptoms, age, and 
habits of the horse into consideration, I gave the following 
Prognosis. —Unfavourable, considering him to have chronic 
disease of his liver; of which I feared rupture to a slight 
extent had taken place ; and I added, it was possible he might 
suddenly fall and die. 
Treatment , &c.—Gave aloes Barb. 5 ij; hydrarg. chlor. 5j. 
Found the rectum empty; and, on examining the same as far as I 
could, he shewed symptoms of uneasiness. Gave enemata of 
tepid water, with ol. terebinthinse Jij. This caused him to strain 
violently; but the enema only was returned. He sighed 
three times : ten minutes after he passed seven or eight pieces 
of dung, which were covered with mucus, and of a clay colour 
when divided. He staled freely, the urine being dark coloured. 
Apply friction to the legs, and double bandages. Keep rugs 
dipped in cold water to the right side. I let him remain per¬ 
fectly quiet until 9, P.M., then tried to give Oiij gruel; but only 
part could be given, as he would not have his head elevated. 
Sighs occasionally. Surface of body warm, inclined indeed to 
