134 SUPPOSED RUPTURE OE THE OESOPHAGUS. 
iodine resembles chlorine in its affinity for hydrogen, part of 
its beneficial action may be due to this property. 
Reasoning a priori , we may conclude that a more extensive 
employment of what may be termed antiseptic tonics is 
desirable in the treatment of malignant affections; and com¬ 
binations of iodine, chlorine, and bromine, are sufficiently 
numerous to enable the practitioner to test their efficacy in 
such diseases. 
Dietetics, which form so important a part of a system of 
tonic treatment, we have not paused to discuss, as our remarks 
on the subject will form a concluding article, but we may be 
permitted to reiterate a caution already given, to the effect 
that tonic treatment, having for its object the support and 
improvement of the system, must be held subservient to the 
assimilative functions, which must never be permitted to 
suffer from the effects of the agents exhibited, as no real 
benefit can accrue from the action of a medicine one of whose 
effects is to disturb the digestive organs and diminish or per¬ 
haps destroy the appetite. So long as our patient eats his 
food with relish, our hopes survive in spite of the most un¬ 
favorable symptoms, but the appetite fairly gone, we confess 
our faith in medicine not to be sufficiently strong to lead us 
to entertain any very sanguine anticipations of a successful 
result. 
[To be continued .) 
SUPPOSED RUPTURE OF THE OESOPHAGUS. 
By B. Cartledge, M.R.C.Y.S., Sheffield. 
In the Veterinarian for January, page 12 et seq. } is re¬ 
corded by me a case of “Supposed Rupture of theCEsophagus,” 
of the history of which I promised to forward a continuation. 
I regret that I cannot add much to the account already 
given. The sac neither fills so rapidly nor so fully as it did, 
but that the opening out of the oesophagus into it is not 
obliterated is still demonstrated whenever the animal drinks; 
for a considerable amount of water then finds its way into it, 
and the swelling puts on a similar appearance to that pre¬ 
viously described. The horse is now at daily work, which 
he performs satisfactorily, and without being distressed. 
The first time he was put to plough, however, he stopped 
frequently during the early part of the day, and exhibited 
