024 
EFFECTS OF MEDICINE ON HORSES. 
MEZEREON — Daphne Mezereum. 
The effects of this plant, remarkable for its acridity, are upon 
horses of so active and irritant a nature that, pushed to extremes, 
it operates as a poison. 
December 5th, 1812. — To an aged horse, poor in condition, 
having acute glanders, without farcy, an ounce of mezereon bark 
was exhibited twice a-day, in balls. Having persevered in his 
balls to the 8th, on that day he was somewhat off his feed; still, 
however, the balls were given, and again on the 9th. On this day 
he purged triflingly, and was too much off his appetite to allow of 
having more medicine : indeed, towards the latter part of the day 
he lay down and appeared very unwell. Pulse 70, which by 
night had increased to 90, and was accompanied by profuse diar- 
rhoea, pain in the bowels, prostration of strength, and death, which 
happened at one o’clock on the following morning. 
On the next occasion it was agreed the doses should be reduced : 
accordingly, on the 29th February 1813, to a bay horse that had 
been treated for catarrh which terminated in glanders, a drachm 
of mezereon bark was given twice a-day. This was continued 
to the 5th of March, on the night of which day he evinced 
unusual dejection, refused his food, and lay down in his box. 
Next day but half-drachm doses were given; and on the 7th, on 
which day he took his half-drachm ball thrice, he evinced signs of 
purgation. On the 8th, however, his dung proved firmer, and his 
appetite improved. I continued his reduced ball thrice. On the 
9th appetite and bowels have both again given way ; on which 
account the ball is given but twice daily. On the 12th the bowels 
recovered their tone, and the appetite again became tolerably good. 
On the 18th the appetite once more failed. On the 19th the balls were 
resumed ; but on the 20th the appetite proved too much interfered 
with to admit of their continuance. On the 22d diarrhoea set in, 
accompanied with symptoms of pain in the bowels, and consider- 
able constitutional irritation, which ended at ten o’clock on the 
night of the 23d in the animal’s death. 
