CAUSATION AXD MODES OF INDUCTION. 395 



days, induced a smart attack of colic and deranged bowels in 

 two colts. 



Sometimes tlie mixing, steeping, or cooking of food in 

 vessels wdiich may previously liave been employed to contain 

 preparations of lead, or which are in part covered with the 

 metal, are sources from which spring much derangement of 

 function, or even fatal results. Many years since I en- 

 countered a rather curious and, in this direction, an instruc- 

 tive case. A gentleman dealing in horses had for several 

 weeks, and often more than once in each week, to request pro- 

 fessional advice and attendance for one or two horses regu- 

 larly affected with abdominal derangement and pain. 



In addition to advice and treatment of the animals as 

 respected the immediate illness, inquiry was made as to 

 dietary, and the probability of any noxious material being 

 mingled with the food, but no positive information could be 

 obtained. 



• One article of diet which they, the animals regularly ill, were 

 alone of all the other horses receiving, because of their being 

 somewhat low in flesh, Avas boiled beans. Although nothing 

 faulty could be discovered with this feed, it Avas ad^dsed to be 

 discontinued, as apparently not suiting these particular animals. 

 On being stopped for a Aveek, the attacks of illness disappeared. 

 The OAvner, hoAA^ever, thinking he Avould have another trial, the 

 cooked beans Avere again resorted to. On the second day of 

 the resumed feeding, one animal of the tAvo Avas again taken 

 ill. On this occasion an examination Avas made of the beans, 

 the vessel in Avhich they Avere boiled, and the accompaniments, 

 Avhen it Avas found that the lid of this vessel, a good-sized 

 fixed or standard article, Avas covered Avith sheet-lead, and also 

 that the beans, Avhen cooked, Avere mixed Avith bran, and 

 aUoAved to stand in a vessel lined Avith lead. Further, it 

 appeared that the cooking Avas ahvays carried out Avith a supply 

 of common salt, more being added Avhen the mixing Avith the 

 bran Avas executed. 



Believing that the vapour of the boiling Avater, the common 

 salt, and other materials in the beans, had so acted upon the 

 leaden cover and vessel in Avhich they Avere stored, that a 

 soluble and deleterious compound of lead Avas the result, 

 which, mingling Avith the food, acted detrimentally on the 



