312 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
asked the owner to get him on his feet, which being done, the horse 
at once began to step around witli his hind feet towards the right, 
and continued this movement till we would permit him to go at 
his leisure, at which time he showed signs of delirium by traveling 
in a circle and walking into anything that happened in his way. 
Diagnosis .—Impaction of the stomach ; I gave an unfavorable 
prognosis; but “Clint” being a fine animal (the first premium 
for general utility being awarded him at the State Fair), the 
owner insisted on my doing something for him, saying : “ as long 
as there is life there is hope.” So I gave a drench of linseed 
oil 3i. spts. turpentine §i; followed in a short time with pulv. 
aloes Barb. 3 vi., tr. nux. vomica, 3 b, given in pill; hot appli¬ 
cations to abdomen. At this time I refused to do anything more, 
as I knew death would put an end to his sufferings soon. About 
this time the horse vomited, and continued to do so at intervals of 
3 to 5 minutes. The horse at no time was quiet nor did he lie down 
from the time we got him on his feet at 6 o’clock until 7 o’clock, 
when he fell, and death followed within three minutes. Made post¬ 
mortem immediately, and upon opening the abdomen about two 
gallons of amber colored fluid escaped. Going still further, traces 
of peritonitis were observed, and after laying back the entire left 
side of the abdominal wall, found the stomach to be ruptured at 
the lesser curvature, sufficiently large to admit the passage of my 
hand. Judging from the amount of ingesta that yet remained in 
the stomach and that which had escaped by the month and 
nostrils, and into the abdominal cavity, the organ must have been 
very much distended. The horse had also suffered to some extent 
from gastritis. He had always been a very fast feeder, though 
lie never was known to suffer any inconvenience from it up to this 
time. 
John A. Myers, D.V.S. 
NATIONAL VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
Brooklyn, N. Y., Sept. 12th, 1884. 
Editor American Veterinary Review : 
It would be folly on my part to reply to Mr. James’ letter 
which appeared in your last issue, otherwise than to quote the 
