GLYCERINE IN VETERINARY PRACTICE. 
439 
from my observation the rectum must be partially filled with 
feces or no action takes place, except the prompt evacuation 
of the glycerine and a considerable amount of flatus. Acting 
upon the thought suggested by the fact of the violent expul¬ 
sion of flatus during its use in these cases, 1 began using enema, 
of pure glycerine in cases of flatulent colic as an experiment; the 
results of this method are the best I have ever obtained in 
the treatment of flatulency, and the most likely to be effi¬ 
ciently carried out. 
The only real difficulty in treating cases by puncturing is 
the objections of the owners, afraid some serious result will 
take place, seeing a trocar introduced into the abdominal 
cavity, but, however admirable this method may be in the 
treatment of flatulency, if another method can be shown to be 
as effective, more safe and more simple, the former should 
give way to the latter. During the past four months 1 have 
used it in ten consecutive cases of flatulent colic where the 
abdominal walls were greatly distended, with the most grat¬ 
ifying results and a complete recovery of each case, and as 
sufficient time has now elasped since the treatment of these 
cases, I report its use for the benefit of the profession, as 
other members may take it up, for throughout the med¬ 
ical world analysis and reseach are active and eager for new 
light. Routine methods and antiquated theories which have 
only popular prestige and venerable antiquity to sustain them, 
are no longer competent to satisfy thinking minds. 
In the cases above mentioned I have found that one ounce 
of pure glycerine injected in the rectum has caused a prompt 
and free flow of flatus from the intestinal tract, which is 
usually kept up for two or three minutes, with a subsidence 
of the distended abdominal walls. Should there not be a 
complete collapse of the walls, the same amount of glycerine 
should be repeated one, two or three times, with intervals of 
ten or fifteen minutes. 
I am not prepared to say how glycerine acts in these cases ; 
probably by reflex action, causing an increased peristaltic ac¬ 
tion of the large intestines. 
Dr. Anacker’s experiments on various animals have proven 
