ACUTE INDIGESTION, ETC. 
375 
These remedies have for a long time been attended with satis¬ 
factory results in our own practice. 
But now supposing all the ordinary medical remedies have 
failed to afford relief, and rupture of the stomach or diaphragm 
seems inevitable, and death is fast approaching, then what is to 
be done ? It is usually urged that enterotomy shoud be practiced 
as a last resort. But we question the propriety of delay when the 
tympanitic distension is distressingly great, or of appalling mag¬ 
nitude. Ruptures could often be prevented by timely resort to 
the trocar, but it can be of no use after they have occurred. 
What are the symptoms which make it imperative that the 
trocar should be brought into requisition ? 
The following symptoms certainly indicate that a resort to it 
should no longer be delayed: Abdomen enormously tympanitic; 
respiration difficult, say of a shallow, convulsive and catching 
character; ears and limbs cold; body bedewed with a cold and 
clammy moisture ; much superficial venous congestion ; ears lop¬ 
ped ; lips pendulous; unsteady and tottering gait. These symptoms 
are appalling enough to indicate that it is already too late to be 
of any use. But at this critical juncture it can do no harm, if it 
does no good, and the owner will certainly not object, nor will he 
be likely to censure the operation if it proves unavailing. 
During a practice of twenty-one years we have resorted to 
enterotomy in at least thirteen cases of flatulent colic, with the 
following results, 
Case 1. In the fall of 1859 a brown gelding was brought to 
us for treatment. His symptoms were distressing to witness ; 
abdomen enormously tympanitic, breathing extremely difficult, 
continual efforts at eructation, manifested by the sound of the 
gases within the oesophagus, much pain. Medical remedies of 
good repute were administered, but gave no relief; rupture or 
suffocation seemed inevitable, unless escape for the confined gases 
was provided. We punctured the intestines through the right 
iliac region at its most tense and resonant point. The relief was 
immediate, and the recovery complete in a few days. 
Case 2. In the autumn of 1860 we were called to attend a 
powerfully built bay* horse, with severe symptoms of wind colic. 
