70 Stable Management and the Prevention of Disease 



Sodium Sulpho-Caebolate. 



It would be well worth while, in future outbreaks of 

 anthrax fever, to try the result of administering the acid in 

 the form of sodium sulpho-carbolate, as suggested by Dr. 

 Lionel Beale. He states that Dr. Sansom carried on some 

 experiments with it a few years ago, and found that, in this 

 form, an amount of the acid could safely be taken into the 

 system which would be highly poisonous in its free state. 

 Whether it would have as great an effect, as in the latter 

 form, in checking the progress of anthrax has yet to be seen, 

 but there is great reason to hope so. 



When given to man in doses of from twenty to sixty grains 

 every four hours, the odour of carbolic acid was readily 

 detected in the breath, and the urine contained a considerable 

 quantity of sodium sulphate, but no acid. Evidently, there- 

 fore, the salt was decomposed in the blood or tissues. 



The dose for a horse would be about three drachms every 

 three or four hours at first, and at longer intervals ' if the 

 patient improved. 



Common Salt. 



When in private practice, before entering the army, I 

 found large doses of common salt very successful in treating a 

 disease in horned cattle exactly resembling Loodiana fever, and 

 therefore during the prevalence of anthrax, at Eawul Pindi. 

 I advised "Veterinary Surgeon Burton, who was then in 

 charge of the Eoyal Artillery horses, to try the effect of 

 salt upon one horse which was very dangerously ill. He 

 did so, and the animal rapidly recovered; but like those 

 treated with carbolic acid, he had been attacked when the 

 first virulence of the epizootic had subsided, so possibly he 

 might have survived without any medicine. This, so far as 

 I am aware, is the only instance in which common salt has 

 been given in the disease, but it might be worth further trial. 

 The doses I would recommend are one pound at once, in two 

 or three quarts of water, and four ounces every four hours 

 afterwards, gradually increasing the intervals if the patient 

 improved. 



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