PROFUSE STALING. 411 



medicine, however, the greatest confidence is to be placed 

 in sugar of lead, or a long course of sulphuric acid, 

 mingled with the water which the animal drinks. Great 

 benefit has been known to be derived from a large strength- 

 ening plaister across the loins. In one instance, the fol- 

 lowing, given twice a day, produced excellent effects, after 

 many other means had failed : — 



Acetate of lead two drachms. 



Common mass a sufficiency. 



Make into a ball. 



The sulphuric acid is to commence when the administra- 

 tion of the sugar of lead ceases. 



PROFUSE STALING. 



The above is not an uncommon disease in the horse. In 

 its worst form, it is attended with an immense flow of urine, 

 insatiable thirst, and rapid emaciation ; with an increase of 

 appetite at first, but a sickly one as the disease proceeds. 

 In its usual type it appears as an immoderate flow of the 

 urinary secretion, sometimes limpid, at others turbid, and 

 lastly of a whey-like appearance. It usually originates in 

 some extraordinary stimulus applied to the kidneys, com- 

 mencing sometimes with the digestive organs ; but more 

 generally the effect appears confined to the kidneys, which 

 become locally affected from powerful diuretics taken into 

 the stomach, either in the form of food, as mow-burnt hay, 

 kihi-dried oats, some vegetable matters browsed from hedges 

 and fields, or otherwise from medicines too active, and igno- 

 rantly forced down the horse's throat. Ship-oats when 

 heated, and some particular plants in hay, are also sup- 

 posed to occasion it : hard brackish water is likewise thought 

 to produce it. 



Treatment. — As the cause, in general cases, is not very 

 occult, it would be a prudent precursor to review the cir- 

 cumstances connected with the general management of our 

 patient. Have the whole of the animal's food changed. 

 Order him different water. Caution the groom against the 

 use of diuretics, but place no dependence upon his strongest 

 assertion, that he never gives the horse any physic. If 

 there be merely a superabundance of urine over the liquids 

 taken, moderate doses of catechu, kino, or oak bark, will 



