MEMORABILIA. 
381 
in applying an extra quantity of manure to one end of a fields 
and run it off at the other. I send you a piece, the veterinary 
part, of the journal called ‘The North British Agriculturist,’ 
where some Mr. D. D., having wrote to the editor that he 
had a calf with a swelled leg, he thought was blackleg, thanks 
him for his editorial advice, to put a seaton into the dewlap 
of all his calces, to keep down their condition, and prevent 
this dreaded disease. I am looking, every number that comes 
in my way, expecting to see the cow’s tail recommended to 
be ripped up and bandaged with the old ointment, composed 
of soot, salt, and tar, as a cure for “ tail ill.’* Spirits of tar 
was recommended to cure mange in horses ; I think Mr. 
Ainslie, of Pentland’s, case, is already in the Veterinarian , in 
which he nearly killed one, and foundered another riding for 
a veterinary surgeon to Roslin, to prevent the first going mad. 
Spirits of tar was at that time a cure for all diseases ; that 
journal recommended it for killing scale bugs, &c., on fruit 
trees. It was extensively used about this neighbourhood ; it 
killed the bugs, no doubt, but it killed the trees also. 
If you don’t read the c North British Agriculturist,’ I think 
you ought to take it : you would get matter for the Veterinarian 
from it. In a recent number, inflammation of the mucous 
membrane, and inflammation of the peritoneal coats of the 
intestines are both described as, and called the same disease, 
and the treatment is the same for both ; no bleeding, bleeding 
kills, but give aconite. 
Aconite seems now to be a cure for all diseases; it is recom- 
mended in enteritis, nephritis, bronchitis, and, I suppose, all 
the other itises that exist. Very likely some of our farmers 
w r ill pay more dearly for this aconitish mania than Mr. Ainslie 
paid for his spirits of tar one. You will see in this paper, Mr. 
Lotham, veterinary surgeon’s cases of inflammation, and the 
answer by the editor. No doubt bleeding was at one time 
common in all cases, but that was the result of ignorance, 
something had to be done for good or for evil ; but now every 
veterinary surgeon knows, or rather ought to know, when a 
horse may be bled with benefit, and when he ought not to be 
bled; and aconite is no more a cure for diseases in the horse 
than Parr’s life pill, Morison’s pills, or Dr. Solomon’s balm 
of Gilead, in the human subject. 
Dalkeith, June 12, 1854. 
50 
XXVII. 
