THE INTERNAL USE OF THE ACETATE OF LEAD. 193 
that is to say, in such manner that it remain acetate , and not 
be converted into carbonate , of lead : an object easily accom- 
plished either by employing distilled water for its solution, 
or by adding a sufficient quantity of acetic acid to keep it 
in solution, in common river or spring water. 
The diseases in which I have found the acetate of lead 
useful are haemoptysis, hepatorrhoea, and haematuria. 
I have never known a case of haemoptysis, which has not 
immediately yielded to it. 
In hepatorrhoea, I have had one remarkable case, in which 
its effect was decided ; although the case proved a fatal one, 
a result which we must look for. I shall relate it: — 
On the 22d Feb., 1851, I was called to attend a bay 
mare, the property of F. W. S., Esq., suffering from the 
following symptoms : — Falling down suddenly in her stall, 
frequently on her haunches, membranes perfectly blanched, 
excessively weak, almost imperceptible pulse. 
Any attempt to hold up her head, for the purpose of giving 
her a draught or ball, even for half a minute or less, caused 
her to fall. 
I immediately pronounced it a case of hepatorrhoea, al- 
though the symptoms were somewhat dissimilar to those 
usually exhibited, a circumstance I attributed to the proba- 
bility of the peritoneal coat of the liver not having been 
ruptured. I ordered a draught, containing 3ij of acetate of 
lead, to be given immediately in half a pailful of water : 
leaving directions with the groom to supply her with no 
other fluid, and not to turn her round in the stall or allow 
her to make any movement whatever ; in fact, to keep her 
in a state of perfect rest, so as, if possible, to admit of the 
chance of any clot of blood that might be effused becoming 
firm and organised, or absorbed. 
She took the medicine in this way, and, with the occasional 
recurrence of paroxysms, which were always relieved by the 
same treatment, lived for a fortnight ; at the end of wdiich 
time she fell down and died suddenly, before I had time to 
reach the stable. 
The post-mortem examination revealed a large crucial rupture 
of the liver, through the peritoneal coat, holding an enor- 
mous clot of blood, the exact duplicate in magnitude and 
shape of the liver itself; so that the peritoneal coat was 
entirely separated from the liver on the side of the rupture. 
Besides this, the cavity of the abdomen contained a large 
quantity of effused blood, mixed apparently with serous fluid. 
Although this case terminated fatally, still it shows the 
utility of the medicine in arresting the haemorrhage. 
