A DOUBTFUL CASE. 
31 G 
April 5th , 1852.—I was requested to visit a two-year-old 
colt, the property of Lieut. Downes, Alnmouth, Northumberland. 
Upon arriving, I learnt the following history of the case from 
the farm steward. That they had only recently succeeded in 
extracting him from a boggy piece of ground, which joined a 
rivulet in the neighbourhood. This was effected with some 
difficulty, for the animal had occasionally struggled violently. 
He was unable to walk to the nearest place of shelter, and they 
had forcibly dragged him some three or four hundred yards by 
the aid of another horse. At that time I arrived, and at once 
proceeded to make an examination. 
Pulsation feeble, and about the natural standard; respiration 
somewhat impeded; visible mucous membranes slightly in¬ 
jected ; surface of the body and extremities cold. I at once 
concluded that he was suffering from considerable prostration of 
strength only. A stimulant was prescribed and given to him in 
some warm gruel, and considerable friction was applied to the 
surface of the body and extremities. He was conveyed to a 
stable, and the stimulant and friction repeated until the circula¬ 
tion was partially restored. The pulse then rose nine or ten beats 
in the minute; but was not of that character which indicates 
inflammatory action. He could not maintain himself in the 
standing position; when urged to do so he would plunge and 
roll upon his back. Reaction having taken place, he was care¬ 
fully watched, so as to take immediate cognizance of any termi¬ 
nation that might be produced from the length of time to which 
the several functions of the system had been in a deranged con¬ 
dition. In the course of an hour he evinced symptoms that ap¬ 
parently indicated an attack of spasmodic colic. I administered 
a dose of anti-spasmodic mixture, and had the friction confined 
to the abdomen. Pulsation had not increased ; the visible mu¬ 
cous membranes were not more injected; but I could detect a 
little febrile action in the afternoon. His extremities were 
warm, but continually extended. All attempts to urge him to 
rise were futile. I saw him again in the evening; he was 
lying down upon his left side, and apparently without pain; but 
was alarmed and would struggle on my approach. Tenesmus 
was also present. Not being satisfied to have the responsibility 
of treating the patient at this stage, I advised the proprietor to 
call in the attendance of another practitioner, to which he con¬ 
sented. The veterinary surgeon came early the next day, and 
pronounced the case as one where the patient was suffering 
from pressure upon the spinal column. The treatment which 
he suggested was simply the application of a strong rubefacient 
along the course of the spine, and to confine him to succulent 
diet. He visited him upon the following day, and no favourable 
