EXTRACTS FROM GERMAN PERIODICALS. 
709 
walls into play, the thoracic cage is expanded by the deep¬ 
est possible inspiration, expiration being synchronous with 
labor. The space occupied by the heart is narrowed, and 
the afflux of the venous blood hindered; the blood supply in 
the major circulation is augmented, and the blood pressure is 
as indicated by Valsalra in his experiments. From the mus¬ 
cular activity, the gaseous interchange and demand for oxy¬ 
gen are enhanced ; the respiratory acts being momentarily 
i i peded, carbon di-oxide accrues in irritating quantities, and 
produces involuntarily a deep inspiration. The result of this 
is that the chest, being expanded, the heart likewise becomes 
suddenly larger, and the venous stream accelerated. The 
negative pressure in the large veins reaches its maximum, 
while the positive pressure of the superimposed muscles also 
diminishes. It may now be comprehended how the actual 
entrance of atmospheric air into a vein of the uterus is theo¬ 
retically possible .—Deutsche Zeitschr. f. Thiermed. 
PLEURITIS CURED BY THORACENTESIS. 
Ribaud primarily asserts that puncture of the thorax is 
unfortunately too late, or not at all performed in veterinary 
practice. The author (Ribaud) handled a case of pneumonia 
in the horse by bleeding, and later applying a sinapism to the 
thoracic walls. On the fifth day of the diseased process, 
pleurisy aggravated the patient. The chest was now sub¬ 
jected to an epispastic composed of cantharides, mercury 
and camphor, the animal receiving contemporaneously potas- 
si nitras, calomel and digitalis internally. 
Since the exudate continued to slowly increase, Ribaud 
performed thoracentesis upon the right side, and obtained 
seven quarts of fluid. On the following day eleven quarts 
were obtained from the left side, and on the third day subse¬ 
quent the right side again yielded seven quarts of the seros- 
ity. After each puncture the thoracic walls were rubbed 
with gray mercury salve, and diuretics administered inter¬ 
nally. In approximately five weeks the horse was cured. 
The second instance was that of a six-year-old, halbblooded 
