629 
Communications and Cases. 
DEATH OF TWO HORSES, 
AFTER THE ADMINISTRATION OF A DOSE OF 
CATHARTIC MEDICINE TO EACH. 
Communicated by J. Kent, M.R.C.V.S., Bristol. 
Dear Sirs, — I forward to you the copy of a correspondence 
that has recently taken place respecting the death of two 
horses, the supposed cause of which was the exhibition of a 
dose of cathartic medicine to each. You are at liberty to 
insert the same in your journal. 
Yours truly, 
To the Editors of the e Veterinarian' 
Pontypool ; Sept. 15th, 1857. 
Dear Sir, — I have had the care for the last two years of , 
two horses belonging to Mr. Alexander Edwards, of this 
town. They have been kept in loose boxes all the summer, 
fed upon vetches, lucern hay, and oats, and were in excellent 
condition, but rather too fat for hunting. I therefore con- 
sidered a mild physic ball would be of service to both of 
them; and on Tuesday, the 1st instant, I got some bran and 
mashed them until the following Friday evening: thus they 
were well prepared for the medicine. Mr. Edwards obtained 
from a druggist in this town two balls, one containing five 
drachms of aloes for the largest mare, seven years old, and 
one three and a half drachms for the other mare. These 
balls were given on Friday evening, between six and seven 
o’clock. At eight I did the horses up ; gave them a mash, 
and placed a bucket of cold water before them ; the same as 
I had always been used to do. They did not eat anything, but 
appeared to be very thirsty. They were in high condition and 
a full state of health until these two balls were given them. 
The brown mare died, much swollen, on Sunday evening, 
about half-past eight ; after a dose of three and a half drachms 
of aloes only given to her, and which operated but little. Upon 
opening her, the stomach was found much inflamed, but in 
all other respects the internal organs were quite healthy. 
