414 
ON THE EFFECTS OF IODINE. 
so in others ; and I therefore felt anxious to have an opportunity of 
trying its effects in hydrothorax. Cases of this kind, however, had 
been of rare occurrence for a considerable period, until this spring, 
when, on the cold weather setting in in February, the disease became 
the most prevalent one in this part of the country. An oppor- 
tunity immediately offered itself in a chestnut horse, belonging to 
Mr. Steel, within 150 yards of the College. All ordinary means 
were here used to subdue the disease ; but, the case becoming 
almost hopeless, I determined to try the iodine, and commenced 
with a dose night and morning. On the following day there was a 
very considerable improvement, which progressed while the medi- 
cine was continued. After some time it was omitted for a day, and 
the patient began to relapse. It was again repeated with the same 
beneficial results, and was left off again and renewed with the same 
effects. 
In about three weeks he was at exercise in high spirits, and was 
soon afterwards sold for coaching. Numerous cases afterwards 
occurred in which its beneficial action was fully established, and I 
am persuaded it will be found the most efficient medicine that can 
be administered in this disease. 
It is proper to mention, that while I thus extol its use, a 
degree of attention is necessary to watch its effects, as it will be 
sometimes found to act with considerable power on the bowels, 
inducing purging, and thereby threatening to destroy life, or, if not, 
producing great prostration of strength from which the animal does 
not rapidly recover. The best time to give it seems after the 
strength of the pulse has been subdued; but, as it appears to have 
decidedly a sedative action, it may be given, even while there is 
a considerable degree of strength in the arterial system. 
It may be used externally in the form of an ointment with great 
benefit in chronic diseases of the skin, such as ringworm in cattle and 
dogs, also in the horse and in children. It is likewise efficacious in 
scald-head, and 1 have found it more useful in canker of the ear in 
dogs, in mallender, sallenders, and rat-tails in horses, than I have 
found it in cases of tumours for which it has been strongly recom- 
mended by medical men. 
Ever since I observed these effects, I have been in the habit of 
stating them to my class : first, its power of allaying thirst, and 
checking diabetes, for several sessions ; next, its power in curing 
dropsy ; and, last March, I explained, at considerable length and 
repeatedly, its beneficial effects in hydrothorax, which, indeed, 
all the class had ample opportunities of seeing. I am therefore 
surprised to find Mr. Mather coming forward with this account of 
the medicine as something new and original on his part, more 
