72() I’RACTUllE OF OS METACARPI MAGNUM OF A HORSE. 
liead appeared between and over the branches of the lower 
jaw, Avith a raAV and bloody surface, caused by leaning so 
lieavily on the manger; the pulse wiry and very quick: ap- 
])etite gone; scrotum enlarged ; faeces dry and hard; and 
discharge less free at the wounds. He had altogether a most 
wretched and unhopeful appearance. At this stage great 
])ressure Avas put upon the overseer, by gentlemen visiting 
the house and others, to have the poor animal destroyed, but 
the good man stood firm, determined to give the case a fair 
trial to the last. 
In order to overcome this diseased condition I made a large 
incision near the axilla, giving egress to much Avatery fluid; 
inserted a roAA’el in the orifice, put a bit in his mouth, and 
tied him up to save his head ; bathed the eyelids, had the 
jaw poulticed, punctured the scrotum, from which much fluid 
escaped, and ordered potass, iodid. et potass, nitras, to be 
given daily in mash or boiled food, and theroAvel to be turned 
it intervals and dressed Avith digestive ointment. For the 
next tAvo days he Avas much prostrated, and seemed to suffer 
aAvful pain. Seeing him on the 9th, hoAvever, I Avas pleasd 
Avith the marked relief he had obtained. He had eaten the 
drugs in mash, Avas partaking freely of food and Avater, a 
copious discharge of matter floAved through the roAvel in the 
axilla, the SAvelling much decreased, great increase of dis¬ 
charge from the loAver Avounds, eyes open, jaAv beginning to 
heal, fseces softer, staling Avith freedom, and using the 
‘‘swing” less frequently than ever. The medicines Avere 
continued daily for a Aveek, and then gradually AvithdraAvn. 
The roAvel seemed useful for a longer period of time, after 
Avhich it Avas removed. The patient continued to improve in 
every respect, only that no Aveight was put on the Aveak limb 
until late at night on the 25th, when a messenger came to say 
that he had become very ill, and seemed determined to be out 
of the slings. Suspecting colic I pocketed some remedies, 
and hastened to the place. On inquiry I found that change 
of food had been alloAved for a day or tAvo—damp, half-made 
hay—of Avhich he had eaten freely ; the large intestines had 
become impacted, gases evolved, and hence the pain. The 
more urgent symptoms yielded to a stimulant draught and a 
few Avarm injections of soap and Avater. I also gave a cathartic 
ball to evacuate the boAvels. After six hours, duriiiij Avhich 
occasional spasms alternated Avith intervals of ease, he became 
])erfectly quiet. The physic operated at the proper time, and 
health and sprightliness once more returned, and, in addi¬ 
tion, he had acquired some confidence in his oavii abilities by 
experience, for, during some of the more severe paroxysms, he 
