SPASM OF THE MUSCLES OF LARYNX AND NECK. 449 
itself, admits of its being done in a very short space of time, 
and with the loss of only half an ounce of blood. 
I shall have some further remarks to make on other methods 
of performing the operation, and which I consider equally 
objectionable, but these I must reserve for a future period. 
I have also some interesting cases which I intend sending 
you the full particulars of, but as time will not permit my 
enclosing them now, they must form the subject of other 
letters. 
SPASM OF THE MUSCLES OF THE LARYNX AND 
NECK, CAUSING ASPHYXIA AND DEATH. 
By R. G. Walters, M.R.C.V.S., Newport, Salop. 
On the 14th of February, 1861, I was requested to see a 
horse, the property of the Lilleshall Company, Donnington 
Wood. He was a powerful cart-horse, about 16J hands 
high, five years old, and had been attended by a member 
of the profession about two months before for influenza, 
the horse bein°’ some miles from home. It was at the ex- 
o 
piration of this time that he was brought home, and I was 
requested to see him. 
Symptoms present .—Pulse 40, the breathing natural, ears and 
legs warm. He was in good condition, and would eat any¬ 
thing that was placed before him. There was no soreness of 
the throat, nor any discharge from the nostrils, and I could not 
make him cough. On inquiring of the man, I ascertained 
that about a fortnight previous they put him to work, but 
he had not got many yards before he staggered and fell, 
and seemed to be dying for want of breath. In this state he 
continued for about ten minutes. 
After hearing this, I ordered him to be trotted round the 
yard ; but he had not gone twenty yards before he stopped, 
and began to bellow like a cow; the mouth and nostrils were 
wide open, the pulse rose to 120 and 140 beats in the minute; 
perspiration poured off the body, and the muscles of the neck 
became quite rigid. 
Treatment .—I at once opened the trachea, and introduced 
a tube of gutta percha, which they happened to have by 
them, in the opening made, and ordered him to be kept per¬ 
fectly quiet. Within a quarter of an hour he was quite calm, 
and eating as usual. I blistered the throat and face, and 
gave a fever-ball night and morning. 
XXXIV. 
34 
