25 
They inoculated 11 canine animals with the saliva of a living mad 
dog; some were placed under the administration of the Xanthium, and 
others were left alone to prove the virulency of the saliva. All these 
animals died—some showing unmistakable symptoms of hydrophobia, 
and amongst these, one after an incubative stage of thirteen days, and 
another of eighty days—the first took about four ounces (125 grammes) 
of the powdered Xanthium, the other about nine pounds (four and 
a half kilogrammes). 
These experiments demonstrate most evidently the inefficacy of 
the Xanthium Spinosum , as far as being a cure for Rabies—it will 
not cure it—it will not prevent its development. 
After all the only trustworthy precautions in case of bites remain 
vet in the old ones, viz.: Suction of the wound, ligature above the 
wound, circular excision of the bitten parts, and when possible imme¬ 
diate deep cauterization. 
ENTEROTOMY. 
The Veterinary Journal of March, gives an excellent article 
from Mr. A. Harthill, V. S. of Louisville; Ivy.; speaking favor¬ 
ably of the puncture of the intestines in case of flatulent colics in 
horses. This is by no means a new operation, as we find it already 
mentioned by Vegetius, by Roem and Bouwinghausen in 1776; by 
Bourgelat and Chalbert, and more recently by Brogniez, Rey, Herring, 
Charlier and others; still as Mr. H. says, it has found but little applica¬ 
tion in the hands of the Veterinarian. Why? is a question difficult to 
answer, unless it is due to the fear of possible complications following, 
as far as the peritoneum is concerned, by its susceptibility to inflam¬ 
mation with fatal results. Mr. II. reports one special very interesting 
case, and mentions several others, which proved successful by this 
treatment, and there is no doubt that much good can be derived from 
it; complications are rare and exceptional. The right flank is un¬ 
doubtedly the place to perform it, and the animal can be as well kept 
standing up as to be thrown or placed in the stocks; not being a pain¬ 
ful operation, and done rapidly the animal will not defend himself. 
Whether it is to be done early or late in the development of the disease 
is a question which is yet, we believe undecided. Some recommending 
it almost from the onset of the disease, others advising to wait until 
the effects of other means of treament have failed, or even only in 
extreme cases. At the last meeting of the X. Y. Veterinary Society, 
a paper from Mr. J. Myers, Jr., D. V. S. of Cincinnati, Ohio, was 
presented upon that subject, which will be published in full in our 
next number. 
