334 - THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT. 



forms us, that the horse not only soon becomes habituated to the 

 brackish flavour of the iron, but even prefers the drugged beverage 

 to his ordinary drink*. 



Cantharides, as a medicine possessing singular efficacy in 

 glanders, are in great estimation with Mr. Vines. " The medicine 

 I have found of the greatest service," writes this authort, (in his 

 chapter on the ''Treai.ment of Glanders and Farcy," Section, 

 *' Remedies to be employed") '' whether alone or in combination, 

 has been cantharides. They appear to me, when given internally, 

 to act on the system in two ways : — first, by stimulating the vas- 

 cular surface of the inner coat of the stomach and intestines, thus 

 promoting the greater formation as well of gastric juice as of the 

 other fluids ; and also increasing the appetite and digestion, and 

 consequently forming a greater quantity of chyle, or new white 

 blood. Secondly, by absorption, their active properties being taken 

 into the circulation, and producing in a very short time a material 

 change in the mucous 'membrane and idcers of the nose, as well as 

 in the ulcers of the skin." Mr. Robertson (Mr. Vines informs us), 

 a surgeon, has published an excellent work on the efficacy of can- 

 tharides for gleets or affections of the urethral membrane, and for 

 unhealthy sores in the skin ; and that he (Mr. R.), twenty years 

 ago, recommended its use at the Veterinary College, where it 

 failed, Mr. Vines says, " from its having been given in too large 

 doses (drachms)." # * * The principal precautions to be at- 

 tended to in using cantharides internally in the horse are, not to 

 administer them either at the commencement or early stages of in- 

 flammatory diseases, or in too large quantities for a dose, or too 

 frequently to repeat them. For they are only proper to be used, and 

 ought not otherwise to be administered, but when the symptoms of 

 disease are of a chronic, or slow form and nature ; that is, when 

 the system is either in a state of debility, or approaching to it," 

 &c. * * * The doses are — *' for a middle sized saddle- 

 horse four grains ; for a large carriage or dray horse six grains, in 

 fine powder," made into a ball, with ginger, gentian, &c. " A ball 



* From Mr. Youatt's " Lectures," Veterinaeian for 1832. 

 t Op. cit., at page 215. 



