RETROSPECTS OF VETERINARY PRACTICE. 
97 
of purgative medicines so well. This, among my class of 
patients, was highly inconvenient, as their work was often 
interfered with. On the other hand, I found the same cases 
after the exhibition of a stimulant progressed more favorably, 
the bowels resuming their action after the spasm subsided. 
Aloes, although successful, were not so speedy with me 
in giving relief; therefore I abandoned them in these ordi¬ 
nary cases for ammonia, in which I find an agent of the 
greatest possible use. 
Mr. Greaves’s case of the five-year-old* cart-horse is an 
example of such as now and then occur, in which medicine 
may be administered wholesale without producing the desired 
effect. 
With regard to linseed oil, I certainly do not possess any 
predilection for it. If purgatives are indicated from the 
evident constipation or impaction of the bowels—the animal 
having either had access to a wheat or barley heap, or his 
voracious propensities not having allowed of perfect mastica¬ 
tion or insalivation of the food—then I would give aloes, 
accompanied with enemas, with a view of guarding, if pos¬ 
sible, against that sad event—rupture. 
I have noticed, in animals dying from rupture of the 
stomach, that the small intestines, generally empty, exhibit 
signs of inflammation. Now, for my part, I should consider 
this to be due to the excited action of the muscular fibres 
consequent upon the over-distended stomach—a sympathetic 
action to assist, as it were, in disgorgement from that organ. 
Previous to death in such cases w r e have frequently urgent 
symptoms, the stomach giving way from internal pressure, 
but presenting no signs of inflammation, fermentation being 
always to be dreaded. It is here I give purgatives, such as 
aloes, mostly in solution, with croton, and in large doses; 
for if the first few hours are lost to the practitioner, either 
from rupture of the organ or by participation of the brain, 
death steps between him and his patient. It is reasonable 
to suppose that an overloaded organ will be impeded in its 
action ; muscular fibre is weakened, and pressure from the 
organ itself limits the transmission of nervous stimulus. In 
all such cases, seen early, before the physical signs of inflam¬ 
mation are apparent, I have found the benefit of exhibiting 
the ammonia in combination with aloes. 
Overloading the stomach with chaff, wheat, &c., is common 
amongst farm-liorses. Here my success has been well re¬ 
paid by the above treatment. Similar effects are also pro¬ 
duced by the beans, &c., and hay or straw-chaff used for 
heavy dray-horses, all of which I treat as above. 
xxxvii. 7 
