378 SUBCUTANEOUS INJECTION OF MORPHIA. 
more than we should an inflamed joint. Our safest plan is to 
let the bowels alone, or at most to apply soothing remedies, 
such as a little oil and ether, until such time as we have 
evidence of the pain and tumefaction having subsided ; even 
then we must proceed with caution, and by no means give 
aloetic balls containing much aloes. A gruel diet, with 
occasional injections per rectum of thin gruel, is really all 
that is needed for some few days, leaving the rest to vis 
medicatrix nature. 
The action of morphia injected under the skin is remarkable. 
The pulse instantly rises, the system glows, and the horse 
often breaks out into profuse perspiration, then the pulse 
sinks below what it was before the injection by many beats, 
and the patient falls asleep. My friend, Mr. Cuthbert, tells 
me that a horse he gave five grains to slept twenty-four hours 
after it. They most frequently sleep from two to six hours 
after a good dose, though I once had one sleep I dare 
scarcely tell the number of hours. I had given him fifteen 
grains of the morphia. It was when I first began the 
practice, and had not ascertained the dose ; however, he 
would have died, under the old system, and as it was he made 
an excellent recovery. 
That it deadens pain instantly and effectually let me give 
one instance. In the summer of 1868 Mr. Smith, of Carlton 
Hill, Leeds, had a brown horse taken ill at 1.30 o'clock p.m. 
with griping pains. At two o'clock I saw him. The attend- 
ants could not, and had not, been able from the first to keep 
the poor brute on his legs. I used the usual remedies, 
such as antispasmodic draughts, purgatives, injections, &c., 
without relieving the pain one tittle. Giving this up in 
despair, I thought I would use my (to me) new remedy. At 
six o'clock I injected some morphia. He immediately arose, 
and stood without moving a limb, until he dropped down 
dead at eleven o'clock. A post-mortem disclosed twisted 
intestine, torn and highly discoloured. The pain would pro- 
bably have killed sooner, but does it not show what a power- 
ful weapon we have in combating these fearfully painful 
complaints in our syringe with solution of morphia? for the 
cause of the pain would be present equally after as before the 
injection which gave such permanent relief. Some may ask 
why I waited from two o'clock until six before having re- 
course to the morphia. I was then young in the practice, 
and having such a violent case before me dare not step out of 
the beaten path. I am glad to say that it confirmed my 
opinion of the value of the method, and I have not lost a 
horse from either complaint since. 
