CORRESPONDENCE. 
709 
same side was enlarged to about twice its normal size, contain¬ 
ing a brownish colored fluid ; it was connected with the cyst. 
On the floor of the cyst there was an elliptical-shaped orifice 
which the author thought was the left ejaculatory duct obliter¬ 
ated. All these conditions connected with the lower surface of 
the rectum suggest the idea that they were the cause of the 
straining and of the prolapsus.—( Veterin . Record .) 
Laparotomy as an Aid to Diagnosis [By F. Hobday , F. 
R. C. V A.].—Referring to an article on the same subject from 
the Berliner Thierarzt. IVoch ., the author enumerates a number 
of cases where he resorted to the operation purely for diagnos¬ 
tic purposes or during the course of some operation or other : In 
horses and mares, 26 cases, including laparotomy for obstruction 
of the intestines, abdominal cryptorchidy, ovariotomy, radical 
operation for umbilical and abdominal hernia ; cattle, 25 cases, 
for ovariotomy ; dogs and cats, more than 200 cases, including 
oophorectomy, ovariotomy, ovaro-hysterectomy, Caesarian sec¬ 
tion, radical operation for hernia, euterotomy, gastrotomy, su- 
pra-pubic lithotomy, etc. ; monkeys, one case of oophorectomy ; 
pigs, a number of cases of oophorectomy.—( Veterin . Record.) 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
THE FIRE AT THE NEW YORK STATE VETERINARY COEEEGE. 
Ithaca, Nov. 19, 1900. 
Editors A merican Veterinary Rezdew : 
Dear Sirs :—You have doubtless seen the report of our fire 
at this College, and I think it well that your readers should 
get an authoritative statement of the occurrence. Early in the 
morning of Nov. 13th the main (central)-divisions of the labor¬ 
atories of bacteriology and pathology, and histology and embry¬ 
ology were burnt out with all their valuable contents. For¬ 
tunately the research laboratories in the same subjects escaped, 
together with their contents. The basement, containing the 
heating plant, store rooms and special work rooms, escaped, 
also the first floor with the museum and offices, and the second 
floor, with the Flower library, periodical and reading room, 
part of the museum, the laboratories of physiology, materia 
medica and pharmacy, lecture room and offices. The east 
wing, 90 feet long, with amphitheatre, dissecting room, store 
room, preparation room, locker room, lavatories and the house 
for experimental animals remain unscathed, as do all the de- 
