438 
REPORTS OF CASES. 
RUPTURE OF THE STOMACH. 
# 
By Wm. V. Lusk, Veterinary Surgeon, 2d U. S. Cavalry, Fort Wingate, N. M. 
A gray gelding (never known to be sick), eight years old, 
sixteen hands high, and used for cavalry purposes, was given 
his usual allowance of grain at 5 A.M., and watered and tied 
on the picket line at 6 A.M. About 10 a.m. he broke loose 
and began to run violently around the yard. In turning a 
corner he slipped and fell heavily to the ground. He was 
then caught and tied up, apparently none the worse for the 
fall. About two hours later he was found standing, with his 
head down, vomiting a mass of masticated food and showing 
signs of colicy pains. Pulse, temperature and respiration nor¬ 
mal. After a careful examination the case was diagnosed as 
rupture of the stomach. He was placed in a box stall, and, 
for fear that the diagnosis might possibly be wrong, was 
treated for impaction of the stomach, which gave no relief. 
Temperature and pulse began to increase, and cold, clammy 
sweats broke out in patches over the body. Aconite was 
given to reduce temperature, with no beneficial result. Every¬ 
thing possible was done to relieve the animal’s sufferings until 
about 10 p.m. the same day, when he expired under convulsions. 
The vomiting continued, at intervals, until about one hour 
before death. 
Post mortem examination revealed a rent about ten inches 
long in the greater curvature of the stomach and parallel with 
it. The edges of the rupture were terribly inflamed and 
swollen. The stomach contained about one quart of masti¬ 
cated food and a small quantity of fluid. The gastric walls, 
except near the rupture, appeared perfectly healthy. About 
two quarts of the stomach’s contents were found in the peri¬ 
toneal cavity, where it had produced considerable inflamma¬ 
tion in the parts with which it had come in contact. No 
tympany or bloating whatever was present. 
In my opinion, this case goes to show that vomition can 
take place even after the gastric walls have ruptured. 
