379 
EFFECTS OF MERCURY ON THE HORSE. 
In a Letter from Mr. ACHERLEY, V.S., Bridgnorth , to Mr. Per civ all. 
To you, Sir, is the veterinary profession principally in- 
debted for having placed hydrargyrus and its preparations (particu- 
larly the chloride) in its proper position in equine therapeutics; 
and so clearly have you demonstrated its good effects in various dis- 
eases, that whatever testimony I may offer to its efficacy must be 
very unimportant. However, if you think the following case 
worthy of notice, it is at your service : — 
In June 1843, I was requested to attend a remarkably fine chest- 
nut horse, six years old, the property of the Right Hon.L.Leveson. 
He had a chronic cough, and was also a crib-biter. 
I determined upon giving mercury a full and fair trial. The 
horse commenced taking hydrarg. chlor. cum opii. pulv. gr. vij. 
twice a-day, until warned to desist by the vascular mouth, pinky 
gums, and foetid breath. The horse was then placed on a liberal 
diet, gentle daily exercise, and a vegetable tonic ball given twice 
a-day, for fourteen days ; when, all effects of the mercury having 
passed off, he was again subjected to its influence. After taking 
twelve doses, the system appeared saturated, I may say salivated, 
for there was increased secretion of saliva and tenderness of the 
glands, accompanying impaired appetite, depression of spirits, foe- 
tid breath, & c. The horse’s cough was entirely removed ; but the 
most strange part of the business was, he had ceased entirely to be 
a crib-biter. 
Query . — Did the horse abandon the habit of crib-biting because 
his mouth and gums were sorel or was the cause which induced the 
habit removed by the effects of the medicine I 
Veterinary writers disagree as to cause and effect. Some con- 
tend that crib-biting is merely a habit, ultimately producing dis- 
organization of the stomach and intestinal canal ; others, that it 
is the effect of previous derangement. 
D. P. Blaine says, crib-biting is dependent on dyspepsia. The 
above case, as far as it goes, favours his opinion of the matter. 
However this be, the horse in question has never returned to his 
former practice of crib-biting. 
It cannot fail to be an interesting subject, and I hope a more able 
pen than mine will take it up, and tell us what crib-biting really is. 
