576 
REPORTS OF CASES. 
Shortly before death took place he arose, staggered for a 
few minutes and fell dead. Found about fifteen inches oi 
small intestine in inguinal canal and scrotum. 
Case III.—Subject, large draft gelding, six years old 
Several months before, I had examined him for owner, to de- 
cide the nature of an enlargement in groin. I diagnosed 
small chronic inguinal hernia, and suggested an operation. 
The owner, a very penurious old gentleman, would not admit 
of such a “ cruel operation.” Owner said the horse passed 
manure very frequently, but only a ball or two at a time. 
Several months after this I was called in the night to see 
same horse. Found him presenting all the symptoms ol 
strangulated inguinal hernia, pawing, sitting on haunches,: 
perspiration on face and in groin, assuming position on back, 
kicking at belly, stamping violently, etc. The hernia was 
very tense. 
I diagnosed strangulated inguinal hernia. I gave him 2 
big dose of chloroform in oil, and threw him. The hernia tc 
the touch seemed to contain more gas than anything else. 
Introduced small trocar and canula to allow gas to escape 
from imprisoned intestine, but with signal failure. 
I then manipulated per rectum and externally at same 
time for about half an hour, with no effect. Then informed 
owner nothing would do any good but an operation, and that 
the immediate and urgent interference was indicated. This 
the old gentleman refused to listen to and declared he believed 
the horse only had colic anyway and asked me to stay with 
the horse for an hour or two and treat the horse for colic. 
I stayed until midnight, but seeing the horse was getting 
worse all the time, and the owner positively refused to lei 
me operate, I left anodyne medicine to be given, and went tc 
bed with the confidence that the horse would be dead in the 
morning. 
At 7 A.M., to my astonishment, he was no worse, but act¬ 
ing just the same. Owner would not listen to the suggestion 
of an operation, but requested rectal injections and colic 
medicine be given; this was done. Told owner I wanted 
him to get some one else to doctor his animal. He said he 
