CATTLE PLAGUE. 719 
selves extracted onions from between the legs of an ancient 
mummied Egyptian. 
Mention may here be made of asparagus, which, though 
now a most important and extensively cultivated spring vege- 
table, both here and on the Continent, was at one time used 
more as a dietetic medicine. It no doubt has active princi- 
ples, but these are much modified by blanching and cultiva- 
tion. 
The consideration of asparagus and Solomon’s seal, em- 
ployed in the same way, leads us to notice the medicinal 
properties of the order. That each genus contains plants of 
greater or less activity is pretty well known, but is is to the 
aloe that we must look for the most useful medicines, both 
in human and veterinarian practice. 
The well-known effects of the extract of different species of 
these beautiful plants is so daily witnessed in both schools 
that it need not surprise the reader if we do no more than 
advert to them. 
The whole garlic tribe has also been employed in veteri- 
nary practice ; but we fear that for the most part the recom- 
mendation thereunto has depended more upon the pungency 
of its odour than upon anything else. Much as it has been 
used, and popular as it still is in rustic practice, garlic finds 
no place in the f Veterinary Pharmacopoeia.’ Nevertheless, 
garlic balls are still in repute for cough in horses ; and scarce 
a country druggist, in some parts of England, but has his own 
famous recipe for them. 
Rennie’s e Supplement to the Pharmacopoeia,’ so much 
used as a counter directory, gives the following : 
“ Garlic Balls. Pound a quantity of garlic cloves till they 
form a paste, which form into balls of 5j to 5\j each with 
liquorice powder.” 
But the form we have ever found most popular has been 
the admixture of Stockholm tar with the above. 
The uses of onions and garlic in cattle plague, and the 
confidence with which they were extolled, would form a 
curious chapter in the history of that fell disease. 
Pathological Contributions. 
CATTLE PLAGUE. 
Intelligence from France respecting the progress of the 
plague is not in any important particulars more satisfactory 
