692 WEST OE SCOTLAND VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
closing up on the withdrawal of it. Every attention was given 
to the injury; the wound suppurated, and all appeared to be 
progressing favorably, with the exception of the advent of a few 
feverish symptoms, up to the 5th of December, when the atten¬ 
dant noticed an abundant discharge of serum underneath the 
anterior part of the thorax, but as there was considerable oedema 
of the parts, little attention was paid to it. 
7th December.—The animal refused his food, and was very 
dull and anxious all day. In the evening his pulse was 76, weak, 
and irregular ; respiration 30, and laboured. On examining the 
wound, a copious flow of serum of a yellowish colour was 
observed, which, running down the arm and under the chest, had 
produced excoriation of the skin. Coupling this symptom with 
the state of the pulse and respiration, I was led to the belief that 
hydrothorax existed, and that the wound was acting as an outlet 
for the discharge of the serum. Auscultation and percussion of 
the right side gave evidence of nothing more than increase in the 
respiratory murmur, as though the lung had above its ordinary 
share of work to perform. In the lower half of the left lung no 
sound, except the beat of the heart (which had the peculiar re¬ 
sonance indicative of the presence of fluid), was distinguishable; 
pressure applied to the left side caused the animal to evince much 
pain, and to give utterance to an expressive grunt. Add to 
these symptoms a short, painful, and suppressed cough, and I 
think I was quite justified in arriving at the conclusion that the 
shaft had penetrated the left pleural sac, thus producing pleurisy, 
followed by effusion. 
Treatment .—Had mustard poultices applied to the sides; 
ordered the wound to be kept open, and gave Ammon. Carb., with 
ale and whiskey every eight hours. 
8th, 10 a.m.—Great improvement was manifested; pulse 64, 
and stronger; respiration 20, and much easier ; had eaten a little, 
and the anxious expression had disappeared from his countenance. 
The mustard had produced a good effect, and upon auscultation 
I found that the right lung was performing its office with greater 
ease, and the murmur on the left side could be heard to within a 
third of the depth of the thorax from below ; the wmund w r as still 
discharging serum very copiously, a small quantity of which sub¬ 
mitted to heat, quickly coagulated. The mustard poultices were 
repeated to the sides, the administration of the stimulants with 
the addition of raw eggs continued, and the animal allowed any¬ 
thing he would eat. In the evening he w r as still improving, the 
discharge lessening, and the pulse reduced to 60; a little more 
mustard was applied to the chest, and afterwards hot cloths; 
internal treatment as before. 
Erom this date I had no opportunity of seeing the horse until 
