DEATH FROM OLEUM CROTON IS. 
53 
most common occurrence, and most fatal in their results; but 
we must not forget that there have in times past existed, and 
there may exist again, epidemic visitations of diseases of a ner- 
vous character, as, for instance, tarantism, the dancing mania, 
and other allied affections ; of a haemorrhagic nature, as 
apoplexy, which has been known to exist epidemically in Hol- 
land ; and even of a cachectic nature, as leprosy and scrofula, 
in which diseases the endemic character has occasionally past 
into the epidemic form . — [ Great applause followed Dr. Ba - 
bingtons address .] 
Foreign Extracts. 
TWO CASES OF DEATH CONSEQUENT ON THE 
ADMINISTRATION OF OLEUM CROTONIS. 
Contribution by Einicke, Veterinary Surgeon to the Second 
Regiment of Dragoons, Prussia. 
[Translated by W. Ernes, M.R.C.S., Dockhead.] 
In the first case, sixteen drops of the croton oil were given on 
an empty stomach to a horse suffering from exanthema, in the 
form of a ball made up with flour and soap. Twenty-four hours 
after the administration not the slightest effect was produced; 
not even borborysm, the usual precursor of purgation, could be 
heard. Impatient of this operation, M. Einicke administered 
twelve drops more about noon, thirty hours after the first dose. 
The following morning he saw, to his satisfaction, that the horse 
was briskly purged, which continued the next day. At this 
time Herr E. found that the horse was very much exhausted 
and very ill ; and gradually, and in spite of all his exertion, 
symptoms of putrid fever followed, of which the horse died on 
ihe fifth day after the administration of the first dose. 
In the second case, the croton oil was given to a horse suffer- 
ing from colic and costiveness, after every other purgative had 
failed. Sixteen drops were given in a ball made up with 
marshmallow powder and soap. Twenty hours after, no purgative 
effect being perceptible, the ball was repeated, containing, how- 
ever, only ten drops of the croton oil. Twelve hours after this 
violent purging set in, and, notwithstanding every care was 
taken to check it, the horse died of superpurgation. 
