54 
EFFECTS OF MEDICINE ON HORSES. 
likely to become durable and solid, and was so, in fact, in this 
mare. 
It is not, however, always so in cases of scirrhous or encephalous 
tissues. When, in operating on such, they are not completely 
excised, they become purulent or ulcerate, and thus prevent the 
wound from healing properly. This point in practical pathology 
is, in my opinion, exceedingly important, and worthy of being 
carefully studied. 
It may easily be supposed that I do not mean to assert that, by 
excising a melanotic tumour from some part of the body, we effectu- 
ally prevent a similar morbid formation from ever appearing there : 
on the contrary, there is great chance of some of the neighbouring 
parts becoming affected in a like manner; for it is well known that 
an isolated melanotic tumour rarely appears in an animal without 
announcing a species of melanotic predisposition, under the influ- 
ence of which the whole body sometimes becomes farcied with 
melanotic formations. I merely wished to shew that it was pos- 
sible to excise a portion of the melanotic tumour, and that it 
would occasionally happen that the parts left behind would decay 
of themselves, either by suppuration, by cicatrization, or by 
second intention. 
Journal Clinique Veterinaire, p. 97, 1843. 
EFFECTS OF MEDICINE ON HORSES. 
By Mr. Percivall. 
Lead. 
As an external medicament, no substance has been held in 
greater estimation, or been more generally used, than lead ; and 
though surgeons of the present day ascribe less efficacy to it than did 
Goulard and his followers, yet it is still a frequent and favourite 
application to inflamed or swollen parts, and one that is believed to 
be productive of a great deal of benefit. Many veterinary sur- 
geons are likewise in the habit of employing “ Goulard lotion,” as 
it is commonly called — the liquor plumbi diacetatis dilutus of the 
present London Pharmacopoeia — but with what amount of efficacy 
seems rather doubtful. Professor Coleman declared it to be, for 
horses, in any strength, no better than so much cold water. And 
I must confess, though I use it, I have my misgivings, myself, about 
its local operation. It has one decided advantage — it has the ap- 
pearance of being, and is by the public considered to be, medicinal . 
