4G 
C. H. PEABODY. 
EMBOLISM OF POSTERIOR AORTA AND TERMINAL 
BRANCHES, 
By C. H Peabody, D.V.S. 
(Read before the Rhode Island Medical Association .) 
On being requested to visit an animal belonging to Mr. J. S. 
Tuestloit, of this city, I found a gray mare, 12 or 13 years of age, 
about 15£ hands high, and in very good condition, but with the 
gluteal muscles and those of the thigh and tibial regions of the 
off side somewhat atrophied; pulse, 42; temperature, 100 ; res¬ 
piration, 16. The mare at first had a bad cold and did not make 
a good recovery. She was not used for about three weeks, and 
then, when driven three or four miles, showed lameness in the off 
hind leg, and was removed from the carriage as quickly as possi¬ 
ble, for fear of falling. She held her off hind leg up so high that 
she threw herself down on the other side. After resting one hour 
she appeared all right, and the next day returned home. Upon 
using her again the same symptoms were presented. At my re¬ 
quest the animal was hitched to a buggy and driven about half a 
mile again, when she presented the following symptoms : She 
showed lameness, and before we got back it was almost impossi¬ 
ble for her to move the off hind leg, as there was hardly flexion 
or extension, but an abduction, and a swinging motion of the 
whole limb. Respiration, labored ; pulse, 72; temperature, 103. 
Arriving at the stable, she would constantly set the foot down 
and then take it up. About fifteen minutes after being quiet 
there was not so much uneasiness. I then made an examination 
per rectum, and found an embolism of the posterior aorta, and 
also of the external and internal iliac arteries on the off side ; the 
calibre of the arteries seemed to be diminished and the pulsation 
peculiar, as though one was trying to force a large volume of 
water through a small-sized rubber tube. The diagnosis I then 
made was embolism of the posterior aorta, at the bifurcation of 
the iliacs. Prognosis, unfavorable; treatment, none. 
I then requested the privilege of making an autopsy when the 
animal should die or be destroyed. On the morning of February 
