RUPTURE OF THE STOMACH, BOWELS, &C. 3 77 
which was, that our patients could not intentionally deceive us. 
Again, in lameness, we must pay particular attention to the 
effect the injury any particular joint or tendon may have re¬ 
ceived, by having the animal shewn out to us, &c. ; and then 
1 felt confident that most veterinary surgeons, with ordinary 
experience, would at once point out the place whence the lame¬ 
ness arose ; and, I added, if Dr. T. could have found it con¬ 
venient to have accompanied me next day to his Grace the 
Duke of Buccleugh’s dog kennel, I had a horse to examine 
there which had died that day of rupture of the stomach, 
whereby he might at once convince himself of the truthfulness 
of my assertions. 
This horse was the property of Mr. Plummer, flesher, here, 
and was one of his farm-horses. He was taken ill on a Sunday 
night, frequently lying down and as suddenly rising; there was 
no appearance of flatulent cholic; none of the violent symptoms 
of spasmodic cholic; the pulse was scarcely affected, so there 
was no inflammation of the bowels; but there was rather a 
more than natural length of time occupied in inspiration, while 
the expiration was quick : the breathing not being accompanied 
with that groan or grunt denoting excessive pain, but with some¬ 
thing similar to a sigh, occupying a considerable time between 
it and the next inspiration, accompanied by a particular appear¬ 
ance of anxiety about the countenance. The legs, ears, and 
muzzle were of a natural temperature; and the horse was said 
to have had the ordinary evacuations during the day. Gave a 
sedative drench composed of opium, camphor, and sp. aether, nit. 
after which he settled a little, though the sighing still con¬ 
tinued, with profuse perspiration. I left him, with directions 
to the attendants to call me if he became decidedly worse. This 
was done about six o’clock in the morning. I found the symp¬ 
toms much increased ; the perspiration profuse all over the body; 
oftener down; stretching out his legs, and again rising; expi¬ 
rations quicker; sighing louder; still, no violent tumbling 
about, rolling over, &c. as we meet with in spasmodic colic; 
and not the quick and full and bounding pulse of inflammation 
of the bowels. My opinion, given to the owner, a decisive one, 
was as follows: Rupture of the stomach, and no chance of re¬ 
covery. He died about four o’clock, P.M., and was taken to 
the kennel to be examined next morning. 
Mr. G. H. Plummer, and some other young gentlemen, at¬ 
tended to witness the post-mortem examination, which was 
conducted by my son, D. Horsburgh, Y.S. And as this has 
been the second horse, within a short time, belonging to Mr. P., 
that has died under nearly a similar disease, and as Mr. P.’s 
keeping, feeding, and general management of horses, is much 
