14 
SUPPOSED RUPTURE OF THE (ESOPHAGUS. 
a dilatation of the oesophagus? The objections to this view 
were, the sac was so large, and it extended beyond the limits 
of that tube. I ascertained that it could not be a ruptured 
blood-vessel, nor did it contain pus. What was it, then ? 
1 confess I felt puzzled. 
The same day I took Dr. Elam, a medical friend, to see 
my patient, hoping he would help me out of my dilemma. 
The case to him was a very singular one, and he stated he 
knew nothing analogous to it in the human subject. After 
passing in review, and dismissing, for similar reasons to my 
own, the probability of its being a rupture of the oesophagus 
or of a blood-vessel, a dilatation of the oesophagus, or 
a sac containing either pus or serum, he came to the con¬ 
clusion that there was a puncture, or partial rupture, of 
the trachea, and that at each inhalation air passed through 
this opening, and thus the sac was filled. At once my friend 
made a convert of me; and, although this theory was scarcely 
reconcilable with some peculiarities that existed in the 
swelling, I was glad to hear a suggestion that had at least 
novelty to recommend it. 
No change took place in either the size of the swelling or 
in the horse’s state of health for some days; but on one 
occasion the man in attendance observed that he appeared 
uneasy after having eaten a little bran-mash, and on giving 
him some water he walked round his box, lowered his ears, 
and deliberately vomited, the water, however, being only 
returned. This at once relieved him, and he immediately 
resumed his feeding. 
I now asked Mr. Henry Jackson, Senior Surgeon to the 
Sheffield General Infirmary, and a lover of comparative 
anatomy, to see our patient. He, with Dr. Elam and myself, 
considered the case a very strange one, but at once expressed 
his belief that the swelling could not be filled with air! He 
nevertheless confessed that he did not know what it could be. 
There now began to be a little variation in the size of the 
enlargement. At one time it was smaller than it had been 
before, and at another it had evidently increased con¬ 
siderably. For further convenience, 1 had the animal brought 
to my own stables; and on the 28th of October, Dr. Elam, 
Mr. Henry Jackson, Mr. W. F. Favell, and Mr. Henry 
Thomas—part of the medical staff of the infirmary— 
met in consultation over this remarkable case. By their 
general consent, I passed a probang into the stomach, and I 
experienced little difficulty in doing so. After some further 
consideration, it was decided that an exploring needle should 
be passed into the sac (a } in the drawing). Accordingly I 
