430 
REPORTS OF CASES. 
I immediately realized I had a very serious spinal lesion 
to deal with, but whether a fracture or a dislocation I did 
not know, or for that matter try to determine. For the time 
being, all my efforts were directed to preventing her injuring 
herself or the attendants. In a short time she went down, 
stretched herself out on the ground, and the whole deformity 
in her neck at once disappeared. 
This was enough for me. I felt convinced no cervical 
dislocation could become reduced like that. I made up my 
mind nothing short of a broken neck could explain such a 
train of symptoms, and gave my convictions accordingly. 
It did not seem possible she could live, but we set to work 
to do all that lay in our power. 
Medical and surgical treatment consisted in giving a 
purgative ball, followed by three-drachm doses of bromide 
of potash repeated at intervals ol six hours, the application of 
hot water fomentations to the whole neck, together with the 
exhibition of enemas and catheterization at regular intervals. 
Also, once every six hours, the mare was carefully turned 
from one side to the other, by rolling her over her back, 
great care being taken to keep the head and neck in the same 
relative position to each other and to the body. For the 
next twenty-four hours the mare became more and more 
quiet and remained in a semi-unconscious condition for the 
best part of a day. 
On Saturday the 24th, however, she began to show decided 
signs of improvement, bowels operated freely and her 
appetite was good. For the first week I may say she was 
not allowed to lift her head from the ground, her nutriment 
being given by the attendant, a handful at a time, inserted at 
the side of her mouth. Her drinking water was given in the 
same way, partly from a sponge, and partly through a rubber 
tube. 
On Tuesday, the 27th, Professor Liautard saw her in con¬ 
sultation with me. We lifted her in slings but she was 
utterly unable to help herself in any way. By flexing her 
neck very distinct crepitation could be detected, and the 
professor fully concurred with me in the diagnosis of a 
