416 
REPORTS OF CASES, 
tion of the muscles which governed it. Having at hand a half 
dozen small sponges and a long pair of forceps in the hand of 
an assistant, I proceeded as follows : Incising with a scalpel the 
mucous membrane along the superior and posterior edges of the 
affected arytenoid ; then with a long pair of curved scissors cut 
through the vocal cord at its insertion on the cartilage and the 
mucous membrane along the lower edge, also muscular fibres of 
the crico-arytenoidean and thyro-arytenoidean, then the mucous 
membrane along the anterior edge, destroying as little mucous 
membrane as possible by cutting as close to the cartilage as can 
be done. The arytenoid was then lifted with a pair of forceps 
and cut away near its articulation with the cricoid cartilage 
with a probe-pointed bistoury, requiring some little force and 
a saw-like motion. Moller and Cadiot speak of an ossification 
having often taken place at this point in old subjects, but such 
was not the case here. The cartilage was removed and the 
wound sponged free from blood ; the anterior and posterior 
edges of the wound were drawn together by three catgut su¬ 
tures, this requiring a well-bent needle and needle-holder. 
After having removed all blood-clots from larynx, I packed it 
with antiseptic gauze, tied so as not to be worked around into 
the oesophagus. The packing around the tube was removed, 
and the horse, as soon as able, allowed to rise, was placed in a 
box stall without food or bedding, but having access to a 
bucket of water placed upon the floor. Next day packing in 
larynx was removed and larynx cleansed with damp sponges; 
tube cleaned and returned into trachea ; damp oats was 
allowed and fed from the floor; small quantity of hay also. 
In five or six days horse was able to breathe through larynx and 
the large incision was being left open, the tube left out of the 
trachea. 
In a few days the horse was sent home and orders to feed 
and water only from the floor. 
He gradually grew better, till at the end of two weeks he 
would emit no sound at all when chased into a brisk trot. In ten 
or twelve weeks he began to roar again, even worse than previous 
to the operation. I then concluded that this case was going to 
be one of those of which it is oft reported, that “ the operation 
was a success, but the patient succumbed,” but in the course of 
a few weeks the roaring gradually lessened, and in the last five 
or six weeks the horse has been jogging to town every day 
drawing a milk wagon, and to all appearances and reports from 
owner is as sound as ever. 
