55 6 
CASTOR OIL AS A PURGATIVE AGENT. 
out in a conical form of the remaining layers, as covered by the 
conjunctiva. Vessels tinged with red blood, closely packed 
together run parallel with each other from the periphery of 
the cornea towards the central spot, where they disappear. 
Not unfrequently, the entire substance of the cornea either 
bursts or ulcerates, when fungoid growths will spring from 
the part, and the eye be lost. Even in such cases where this 
untoward result does not occur, blindness for the most part 
is produced. Neither preceding, nor during the progress of 
the affection, does the animal give any indication of constitu- 
tional suffering, and it would appear as if the disease owed its 
origin to some local cause.] 
THE EMPLOYMENT OF CASTOR OIL AS A 
PURGATIVE. 
By E. Gibbon, M.R.C.V.S., Upton. 
I observe in the Veterinarian for August a communica- 
tion from Mr. Armitage, V.S., Sheffield, on f Purgatives and 
Clysters in the Treatment of Spasmodic Colic in the Horse/ 
and I feel desirous, while this subject is before the profes- 
sion, to make a few remarks upon it. 
When I first started on my professional career, I used to 
treat spasmodic colic with sedatives principally ; but not 
finding them to answer my expectation, I soon got tired of 
such treatment, and determined to try the effect of purga- 
tives, followed up, in cases where they were required, by 
powerful doses of sedatives. For this purpose I determined to 
give trial to castor oil as a purgative agent, although 
the professors of veterinary science do not hold out much 
encouragement for its employment for such a purpose. 
Having used castor oil before I entered the veterinary pro- 
fession, in one or two cases, contrary to the opinion of two 
veterinary surgeons, and having seen good resulting from its 
employment, I was induced to regard it as a purgative agent 
in domesticated animals. Since entering the profession I have 
determined to give it a fair trial, and the result is, that I 
attach much value to it as a purgative agent both for the 
horse and the ox, in all cases of real constipation of the bowels. 
There is nothing equal to it for such cases; but in cattle I 
prefer aloes and sulphate of magnesia for ordinary purposes. 
I may say, however, that in exhibiting aloes you want to 
