468 ACONITE AS A SEDATIVE AND MEDICINAL AGENT. 
stomach, duodenum, and part of the jejunum were distended 
with fluid, but the rest of the small intestines were empty. 
The caecum had a little alimentary matter in it, with a 
reasonable quantity of fluid. The colon at its commence- 
ment had some alimentary matter, but under the usual 
amount; it was chiefly composed of grass and a little hay. 
The rest of the intestines were empty. The veins of the 
stomach and small intestines very much distended, and the 
latter was slightly inflamed. When I applied the least pres- 
sure to the mesentery along its attachment to the duodenum, 
jejunum, and part of ilium, it ruptured. 
A medical gentleman who was present during the greater 
part of the post-mortem examination, at once recognised the 
disease as a cancer. A surgeon in the district placed part 
of the tissue surrounding the growth under his microscope 
(mine being out of repair), and he pronounced it to be de- 
cidedly a cancerous formation. His opinion has been verified 
by several medical men who have seen the specimen I have 
preserved in spirit. I have done this because there has been a 
little dispute as to the existence of such growths in the horse. 
Being fully aware of the malignancy, intractability, and 
slow progress of carcinoma, it must have existed for some 
time. It is possible, however, that her going out to grass, 
which she had done for a week previously, might have fa- 
voured its development ; the grass causing increased peri- 
staltic action, which with the mesentery in that attenuated 
state, may have helped to produce the lesions. The mare 
had also had a brisk trot on the previous day to a market 
town, which I think is also worthy of notice. 
My object in this communication is rather to give a brief 
history of the case than to offer any speculative ideas of my 
own. 
A FEW REMARKS UPON ACONITE AS A SEDA- 
TIVE AND MEDICINAL AGENT IN TETANUS. 
By J. W. Hill, M.R.C.V.S., Wolverhampton. 
After perusing the twelve cases of tetanus recorded by 
Mr. Simpson in your journal of this month, and his ideas as 
to the treatment of this disease, together with the mention of 
my name in connection therewith, I feel that I cannot do 
otherwise than offer a few observations upon the use of the 
drug I employed in the case named. 
