703 
CASE OF TYMPANITIS. 
By H. Crofts, M.R.C.V.S., Calcutta. 
The subject of the above disease was a gray Arab horse, 
a patient of mine, a few months since, when he was brought 
to me for treatment for bone spavin. This I had successfully 
treated, and was about to discharge the animal, when I was 
informed by the syce (groom) that, about 2 p.m. in the day, 
the horse's belly was much swollen, and likewise he was 
rolling on his back in the box. On proceeding there, I 
found the animal with his abdomen much distended, and 
griping pains accompanying it. I at once administered Liq. 
Ammon, fort. 3 SS, Sp. Ether. Nit. Sij, largely diluted with 
water, ordered friction to the abdomen, and soap and water 
enemas to be given, with gentle exercise. At 3 p.m. there 
was no abatement of the symptoms; I therefore repeated the 
draught, increasing the Liq. Ammon, to 5 j, and directed the 
friction to be repeated, and the enemas. At 4 p.m. the dis¬ 
tension of the abdomen had increased, and the breathing 
become quickened, when I again repeated the draught and 
the other aids as before prescribed, and ordered the animal to 
be placed in his box. At 5 p.m. I found the horse lying on 
his left side, and unable to rise; the breathing was laboured, 
profuse perspiration covered the body, the pulse was small 
and quick, the extremities cold. The owner being at hand, 
I advised, as a last resource, to puncture the abdomen with 
the trocar (paracentesis abdominis), intimating to him the 
probable consequences. He readily consented, when I made 
an incision in the skin of the right flank, drawing it on one 
side, then forced in a trocar six inches long and seven six¬ 
teenths of an inch in diameter. A small quantity of ingesta 
immediately came through the canula, followed by a large 
volume of gas (C, 0 2 ). The canula being withdrawn, the 
walls of the abdomen receded, the breathing was relieved, and 
the animal lay quiet for half an hour after the operation. I 
withheld all food and water for twenty-four hours, and then 
allowed mucilaginous drinks. Early in the morning following 
the operation, I applied a mustard cataplasm over the right 
flank, followed by a blister, and all went on well till the tenth 
day after, when I perceived a stiffness in the off hind leg to 
exist. Upon examination, I found an enlargement at the top 
of the scrotum, on the same side, which fluctuated. This I 
lanced, and gave exit to a large quantity of pus. In two days 
afterwards I found it necessary to remove the testicle, from 
