Aloes Poisonous. 73 



effects. Diuretic medicine is undoubtedly good 

 in removing oedema and other deposits, but has 

 no power to arrest the process of effusion and 

 exudations. Contradictory as it may appear to 

 my readers, I incline to the opinion that if the 

 real truth could be fully known, it would be 

 found that effusion is actually facilitated during 

 the action of diuretic medicine. This is known, 

 that during the action of cathartic medicine, which 

 abstracts the watery part of the blood by way of the 

 bowels, as diuretics do by the kidneys, the car- 

 thral action (the process of effusion) goes on more 

 rapidly. Some patients will rally to a certain 

 point, then become stationary for several days, 

 the pulse standing at 60, 72, or 80, the symptoms 

 neither indicating progression nor retrogression; 

 still neither the accelerated breathing nor pulse 

 settles at all. In a few cases this is purely 

 referable to weakness, but if the secretions and 

 mucous membranes are unsatisfactory, this is an 

 "Ugly symptom. Yv'ithout for one moment under- 

 standing the importance of attending to this 

 point, it is of the utmost consequence to act 

 judiciously, for an error made now throws all 

 chances against the patient. Two drachms of 

 aloes, or eight of oil, given at this stage, espe- 

 cially if the bowels are comparatively empty, is 

 sufficient to kill the largest and best horse alive, 

 The aloes get absorbed into the system and act 

 as a deadly poison, or else their action is followed 

 by constipation. 



Always rely upon enemas, frequent draughts 

 'Of cold water, and, if it is eating moderately, one 



