320 
ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF IODINE IN CASES OF 
DIABETES AND HYDROTHORAX IN THE HORSE. 
By Mr. Thomas Mather, V.S., Edinburgh. 
Diabetes (or profuse staling) in the horse is often the effect 
of some morbid anomaly, either arising in a secondary form, from 
derangement in the digestive organs, the effect of which gives 
rise to increased function of secretion in the kidneys, or otherwise 
these organs may be of themselves affected, independent of the 
previous cause. In whatever form it may arise, it proves annoy- 
ing to both the human and veterinary practitioner, and often baffles 
them in their attempts to effect the recovery of their patients ; or, 
even when subdued, will still leave behind it a lingering emacia- 
tion that takes a considerable period of time ere the patients are 
able to recover from its baneful ravages. 
This disease is not of so rare occurrence as some of our writers 
are disposed to think, especially it is not so in this part of the 
country ; for there are some districts and particular localities in 
which we find it scourging the animals more than in others. 
This has lately been the case in some of the towns in Lanarkshire, 
where this malady is of frequent occurrence in the horse ; and it 
is with great difficulty' (notwithstanding all the remedies the prac- 
titioner can try) that he can effect a radical cure. The frequency 
of its appearance in those parts, I am disposed to think, might 
either probably arise from the chalybeate waters which the animals 
drink, and which are so abundant in that extensive mineral dis- 
trict, or from some other acrid irritant acting upon the kidneys, 
such as heated oats, or the mow-burnt hay that has been ricked 
up too green in the stalk. The state of such provender is found 
by the laws of chemistry to be an acetate of potassa, formed in the 
alimentary tube, and which is, assuredly, the cause of the disease. 
Be, however, the cause as it may, the primary object is to remove 
it, and then give a gentle dose of physic. This may sometimes 
succeed, but not in every case, and especially in those where it 
is attended with great emaciation and thirst. Iodine will then 
be found a very powerful agent in stopping its ravages. It will 
speedily allay thirst, and have almost a specific effect in checking 
the profuse staling in so short a period as the fourth or fifth day. 
I recommended it to a practitioner in that part of the country 
where the disease is of very common occurrence. He put his 
patients under a course of iodine. It completely checked the in- 
creased secretion, and the animals regained their wonted health 
and strength, although they had been reduced to mere skeletons. 
