SYNOPSIS OF CONTINENTAL VETERINARY JOURNALS. 691 
be perforated, the operator firmly rests one end of the drill 
in the palm of the hand, and then, by a sharp movement, 
pierces the intercostal muscles. He then withdraws the drill, 
and inserts the canula in the opening which it vacates. After 
this the same methods and precautions are necessary as 
with small animals. The author gives a first series of ex¬ 
periments, seven in number, on the dog, and these show the 
complete harmlessness of pulmonary cauterisation with fine 
penetrating points in that animal. It is rather remarkable 
that such an operation does not in the least derange the respi¬ 
ratory functions. In each case the wounds in the lungs healed 
perfectly, without any apparent symptom of pneumonia or 
pleuritis. Second series comprised experiments on five 
rabbits. Since the apparatus used for the dog was some¬ 
what too large for these subjects, puncture was made directly 
perpendicular to the costal surface; hence the diaphragm 
and abdominal viscera were involved, but in no case did 
serious results occur. A goat was experimented upon with 
similar results. A two-year old colt was operated upon, and 
destroyed ten days after. “ The two pleural sacs contained 
a considerable quantity of yellow turbid serosity ; the visceral 
pleurae at the posterior half of the external surface of the 
lung were covered with a fibrinous layer, which could be 
easily detached as a false membrane of some thickness. 
Notable thickening of the pleura pulmonalis, with thickening 
and infiltration of its subserous layer, was observed. The 
pulmonary wounds were obliterated by a fibrinous exudate, 
and the pleura costalis presented soft deposits, which could 
be easily torn. Thus, the effects of the operation in the 
horse are entirelv different from those in the animals 
alluded to ; for, to judge by this experiment, the operation 
causes sufficient disturbance to endanger the patient’s life.” 
But this is probably the result of the specific organisation 
of the horse. No constitutional or respiratory disturbance 
followed the operation in the case of an ox and a pig. Nor 
were the lesions marked when the viscera involved were ex¬ 
amined post-mortem. Professor Lorge arrives at the following 
conclusions : 
1st. “ That pulmonary cauterisation with fine penetrating 
points is harmless in the ox, goat, pig, dog, and rabbit; that 
in these animals it never leaves the least trace of haemorrhage 
into the pleural sac, nor of pleurisy, nor of pneumonia (to 
any appreciable extent). 
2. “ That the pulmonary wounds produced by fine incan¬ 
descent points heal with rapidity, and do not produce 
pneumonia. 
