40 THE EQUINE HOSPITAL FORMULARY. 



regret that other work of more pressing importance kept 

 my time so much occupied at the Cape that I could not 

 devote the time and attention to this subject which it so 

 urgently requires. From every point of view, information 

 on this subject would be most valuable, especially now that 

 the whole question of blood-diseases is being re-investigated 

 from an entirely new aspect. Let me extract from Dr. Brun- 

 ton's valuable work the following notes: "Permanganate 

 of potassium very readily parts with its oxygen, and thus 

 destroys organic matter. When mixed with cobra poison, 

 it completely destroys its deadly power. The mixture may 

 be injected subcutaneously without any bad effects. When 

 injected after the poison, however, it does not appear to 

 come int'^ such immediate contact with it in the tissues as 

 to destroy the poison, and therefore the salt does not act 

 as an antidote." 



' With this last observation the above case does not seem 

 to accord. My opinion is that the antidotic power of the 

 salt would be marked, provided it were injected in sufficient 

 strength and at a sufficiently early period. Firstly, the 

 solution must be very strong, and in sufficient quantity ; 

 secondly, it must be injected as near as possible to the seat 

 of injury, as well as in other parts ; and, thirdly, in order 

 to be effectual, it must be injected as soon as possible after 

 the bite. It may be mentioned that the salt is used largely 

 as a disinfectant in many ways. In cases of eczema it is 

 employed to wash the nose, in mercurial stomatitis, and in 

 diphtheria. 



Application (for certain cases of bites and stings). 

 Strong acetic acid. 



