CENTRAL VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
59 
Mr. Gerrard exhibited a specimen of rupture of the walls of the heart, 
stating the horse was a large one, aged about eight } r ears, a brewer’s ; 
while engaged with two others in drawing about a ton and a half, 
in ascending a hill, fell down and died very suddenly. On making a 
post mortem found the wall of the right ventricle ruptured, also the 
pericardium. In many of these cases the drivers were found fault with 
for supposed carlessness. 
Mr. Gerrard also showed a specimen of ruptured intestine, and said 
about twelve months previously it was attacked with inflammation of 
the bowels and had since had attacks, but had always recovered until 
that day. He was not a ravenous feeder. The rupture was close to 
the ileo-caecal valve which was dilated, and the walls of the gut much 
thickened. The animal was taken ill nine days ago. Partially recovered 
and was put out to grass. He was called to the last attack on November 
5th, and then saw him for the last time alive. He ate, and he thought 
he would recover. The pains being so lingering he believed there was a 
tumour existent. 
The Chairman said this specimen was very interesting on account of 
its duration. There must have been some partition in which the food 
lodged. The absence of peritonitis proved there had been some disease 
in the intestine before death took place. It appeared at the commence¬ 
ment of the caecum close to the ileo-caecal valve, which was dilated ; and 
the intestine had evidently for a long time been trying to overcome the 
obstruction. 
A case of ectopia cordis with extreme contortion of the spine was 
exhibited by Mr. Banham. The specimen was forwarded by Mr. Wilson, 
of Nantwick, to the Brown Institution. The creature, a calf, had been 
removed with great difficulty by Mr. Wilson. The thoracic cavity was 
reduced to the smallest dimensions, through the spine being first curved 
abruptly upwards in the dorsal region, then bent suddenly round in 
the lumbar region, the pelvis being lodged or rather imbedded in the 
left shoulder. The heart protruded through the diaphragm, and was 
external to the chest behind the sternum. 
Mr. A. Broad introduced to the notice of the meeting an instrument to 
enable a practitioner to examine a horse’s nostril with safety when 
examining for glanders. It consisted of a circular hand mirror some six 
inches in diameter, with a half-inch transparent eye-hole a little to the 
right of its centre; in use was held before the nose, and examination 
made with the left eye, the best position being in a dark box looking 
away from the light. 
The Secretary suggested it would be an advantage if the glass were 
convex. At present there was no magnifying power, but it was urged 
that that would nearly double its cost without materially adding to its 
utility, and that it was a very good speculum and certainly useful for the 
purposes designed, the horse being very liable to snort. 
The Secretary announced that Mr. Henry Surmon, of Bed Lion Yard, 
Clerkenwell, was proposed as a Fellow of the Society. 
Mr. Hunting announced his intention of introducing the subject of 
colic with regard to treatment for discussion at the next meeting. 
Votes of thanks being accorded those gentlemen introducing the 
subjects discussed, the proceedings terminated. 
Present sixteen Fellows. James Rowe, 
Hon. Sec 
