720 
M. STALKER. 
an examination per vaginurm He at once informed me there 
was a tumor or some other form of abnormal growth. After 
questioning him as to situation and general characteristics, 
proceeded to make an examination myself. A very large cal¬ 
culus was present. The method of operating was the same as 
in the last described case, with the exception of allowing the 
wound to unite without the aid of sutures. The patient did 
well and was discharged at the end of fifteen days. The stone 
removed in this last instance weighed fifteen ounces. 
These are the only cases that have come under my observa¬ 
tion since I have had charge of the hospital at the veterinary 
college. Any one of these might have escaped a proper 
diganosis if nothing more than casual thought had been given 
to the case. 1 cannot urge upon vou too strongly the necessity 
for careful attention in all cases of supposed predisposition to 
colic of a spasmodic type. Do not depend on the owner giv¬ 
ing such a history as might lead you to almost a certain 
knowledge that some other form of trouble existed. These 
evidences may have escaped the notice of the owner or at¬ 
tendant, or in any event he may fail to give an account of them 
in his history of the case. You have a patient before you. It 
is your duty to determine what he is suffering from. The 
disease diagnosed, there is but one method of procedure. 
DISCUSSION. 
Dr. Thomas : “We are all surely very much interested in the lucid descrip¬ 
tion given of these operations and will be interested to examine these concretions. 
I would like to know if it would be advisable to examine and operate on a mare 
heavy with foal. Would examination or operation not produce abortion.” 
Prof. Stalker: “I do not think any harm would come from making a physi¬ 
cal examination sufficient to make a diagnosis, but would not advise an operation 
until after the foal was dropped.” 
Dr. Morse : “I know a case which aborted from the irritation of a manual 
examination per vaginum. I would like to know if such results generally 
follow. 
Dr. Stewart: “ I do not think such results will often follow if usual care is 
taken. Would not the presence of a large calculus seriously interfere with the 
act of parturition?” 
Dr. Stalker: “ The interference would not be very great, owing to the pen¬ 
dulous condition of the bladder. Abortion would probably result from the re¬ 
moval of the calculus.” 
Dr. Inger: “I have seen cases of stone in the bladder, which did not show 
