RUPTURE OF THE DIAPHRAGM. 
697 
On tlie morning of March loth, the owner found the mare sick 
in the barn. During the night she had kicked out the plank par¬ 
tition in the stall and was found lying upon her side. She did 
not roll nor make any great disturbance, so the owner did not see 
anything alarming in her condition. He gave her a pint of 
linseed oil and went about his business. Accidentally meeting 
me about ten o’clock he asked me to drive around by the barn 
and see if there was anything serious troubling her. Upon 
arriving at the barn found her lying in the garden lot in the 
mud. She was plastered over with mud and water and was a 
very muddy animal. She was gotten up and let into the barn, 
where the following symptoms were noted : 
Pulse 6o, respirations regular but somewhat accelerated, 
lying down, stretching at full length upon the floor, no attempt 
to roll. After lying four or five minutes she would make an 
effort to rise, but would stop with her legs in a flexed position, 
lying directly upon her sternum, and remain in this peculiar 
position for some time, pointing with her nose to either side 
directly behind the forelegs rather than the flank. The pain did 
not seem to be acute, although she bore a very anxious expres¬ 
sion. The ears were drooping. Remembering the attack of 
indigestion which had previously troubled her, I did not hesitate 
to diagnose the case as colic, and prescribed another pint of oil 
and gave her a hypodermic injection of four grains of morphine. 
I thought she would be better soon, but left instructions to 
call me if she did not get along. At noon, March nth, was 
notified that the mare was still in the same condition. Arrived 
at one o’clock, found the patient showing the same symptoms 
as the previous day—very little change. No movement of the 
bowels since she had been sick. Owner at noon had given one 
pound of magnesium sulphate in a drench. I now realized that 
we had a very grave case on hand. As she was dry and in a 
more fit condition to examine than on the previous day she was 
given a careful going over. Her pulse was 6o° and strong; 
respirations normal in frequency ; inspiration deep, expiration 
difficult,' making her breathe very much like a horse suffering 
