REPORTS OP CASES. 
413 
REPORTS OF CASES. 
“ Careful observation makes a skillful ■practitioner, but his skill dies with him. By 
recording his observations he adds to the knowledge of his profession, and as¬ 
sists by his facts in building up the solid edifice of pathological science. ” —Vet¬ 
erinary Record. 
A PECULIAR CASE. 
By James A. Waugh, V.S. 
I saw the following described case while on duty inspect¬ 
ing remount cavalry horses being bought under contract last 
year in Los Angeles, California. Brown horse, aged seven 
years, fifteen hands high, and owned by Arnold & Turman, 
cavalry horse contractors, who had obtained the animal from 
a liveryman in the city; then showed the horse to a cavalry 
officer, who was well pleased with it, and it was then taken to 
the government stables, where it was kept for about two 
months until the board of cavalry horse inspectors convened. 
In the meantime this animal suffered an attack of influenza, 
and A. T. Whittlesey, D.V.S., was called to treat it. A care- 
„ ful examination revealed a solution of continuity existing in 
the intercostal muscles in the cardiac region of the left side. 
The muscular lesion, or abnormality, was about five inches in 
extent and was situated between the sixth and seventh rib on 
the left side, and there was no evidence of any cicatrix in the 
common integument. The pulsations of the heart could be 
plainly seen externally and could readily be felt internally by 
introducing the entire hand into the thoracic cavity by push¬ 
ing the skin into the breach in the intercostal muscles. The 
animal appeared in fine condition at rest, but respiration and 
circulation seemed somewhat impaired, and we never tested 
him in any exercise, as it was deemed unsafe to make any ex¬ 
periments with private property. The horse was presented 
to the board of cavalry horse inspectors on August 28, 1888, 
and we promptly rejected him. I afterwards saw this ani¬ 
mal driven in a double team to a light vehicle, but did not 
have any opportunity to make any observations on the sub¬ 
ject. I have consulted the works of Fearnley, Williams, 
Robertson, Gresswell, Law and other veterinary authors, also 
