156 RETROSPECTS OF VETERINARY PRACTICE. 
in consequence had taken place to a great extent, and a state 
bordering on gangrene within the muscles existed. The 
gullet, which accompanied the trachea in its separation, was 
empty and collapsed, having a rupture extending about three 
inches along the middle third, at the posterior portion, the 
edges of which showed that the injury had not been confined 
to the day on which my attention was directed to the animal. 
The quantity of food within the spaces also proved that the 
rupture must have existed some time, and this appears to 
be corroborated by the evidence afterwards obtained. 
About a week previous the animal was shut up in a stable 
alone, whilst the dam was taken to work, and as might be 
expected was very uneasy, screaming and jumping towards 
a hole—an apology for a window, common to English farm 
stables—having one of those <e hit or miss *’ slides. The day 
before I saw him, symptoms of dulness came on; he had 
been before noticed unwilling to suck when the dam came 
home, but still chewed grass, &c. The swelling also in¬ 
creased remarkablv from this time. 
•/ 
In the oak bar forming the bottom part of the hole was a 
large iron spike, standing out four inches at least, the head 
of which was covered with hair from the animal, and I have 
no doubt this was the cause of the rupture, for he had been 
known to eat at the manger, and afterwards to rush towards 
the place when he heard anything outside, when, the gullet 
being probably distended by food passing down at the time, 
a violent concussion took place against the nail, favouring the 
injury. The action of the muscles of the neck, in the acts of 
apparent eructation as witnessed, under the effects of the 
presence of a foreign body, will account for the accumulation 
of food, separation and effusion, with their consequences. 
2. CHRONIC EPISTAXIS. 
A gray mare, eight years old, fifteen hands three inches 
high, of good form and proportions, whose daily work was 
“ cabbing,” had suffered from a discharge of blood from the 
nostrils, particularly the left, for several months. 
The animal was lean, nevertheless did her work well, and 
consumed the food allowed with a good appetite. After 
some days* rest the flow was increased, but when she was 
regularly worked the quantity lost per diem would probably 
amount to five or six ounces. In the stable it subsided to 
about half the quantity. 
My opinion as to a probability of cure was solicited on 
account of the valuable services of the creature, although a 
