510 LIVERPOOL VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
Letters of excuse were received from Tom Taylor and S. Locke, 
Manchester. 
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. 
Mr. R. C. Edwards, of Chester, was nominated by Mr. Whittle; Mr. 
Kitchin, Liverpool, by Mr. Lloyd; and Mr. Stone, Walkden, by Mr. 
Morgan, for election as members of the Association. 
A letter was read from the Secretary (Mr. D. Hutcheson), tendering 
his resignation in consequence of having received an appointment under 
Government at the Cape of Good Hope. 
The President , on behalf of the society, wrote in reply, accepting 
his resignation, expressing regret at the loss of his valuable services, 
and wishing him every success in his new undertaking. It was proposed 
by Mr. Greaves, and seconded by Mr. Reynolds, that Mr. W. Leather 
be appointed honorary secretary in place of Mr. Hutcheson. Carried 
unanimously. 
The President took the opportunity of congratulating the members on 
the success of their candidate, Professor Brown, who had been re-elected 
a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. 
It was resolved, “ That the members of this association view with 
pleasure and satisfaction the steps that have been taken by the Council 
of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to obtain a Penal Clause, 
and that this association will gladly render the Council every assistance 
possible (pecuniary if necessary), in order to obtain the desired clause. 
Mr. Faulkner , Manchester, then read a paper on “ The Use of the 
Trocar and Canula in cases of Flatulent Colic.” 
Mr. President and Gentlemen, —In introducing a subject for 
discussion this evening, I feel that one emanating from an older or more 
able member would prove more interesting and instructive, but when 
requested by your energetic and industrious President to lend a helping 
hand in the emergency arising from Professor Axe’s inability to be 
present, I could not decline, more especially when, as a junior member 
of this association, I considered it to be my duty to render what little 
assistance I could as a small recognition of the much good and increased 
knowledge derived by myself from time to time when attending these 
meetings. 
The use of the trocar and canula in cases of flatulency or tym¬ 
pany in horses, I am aware, is open to controversy, and although the 
operation of puncturing the intestines has been known for a length of 
time, yet at the present day it has not come into general practice. 
Having ascertained its practical utility, I for that reason bring it before 
you in order to elicit the opinions of those who may have given it a fair 
trial, and in the hope that others may be induced to gain the necessary 
confidence to follow up and test for themselves the use of an instrument 
that to me has proved of incalculable service, notwithstanding that when 
I commenced the operation I was aware that in many quarters it was 
looked upon with suspicion and regarded as dangerous, but now I feel 
satisfied it can be performed with impunity. When properly done there 
is no danger of injuring any vital organ. 
Some six years have elapsed since I first used the trocar and canula 
in cases of flatulency, during which time I have had every facility for 
thoroughly testing the operation, and, as a result, have come to regard 
it as invariably successful when performed in time, when every other 
known means have failed, being capable of relieving the sufferings of 
our patients and restoring to health the animal placed under our care. 
During this time I must have operated on over thirty cases, and not 
