POISONING OF PIGS WITH BRINE. 
519 
the pigs consisted of young turnips, bran, pea and bean pods. 
The pigs had all fed off the same food, a portion of which was 
then remaining in a tub in the out-house, and in a short time 
after (within half an hour) one of the large pigs was perceived 
to be ill, reeling about the sty, its nose and ears very white 
and pendulous, and its head hanging down. One pig had 
vomited. In a quarter of an hour afterwards this pig was 
found dead. Upon this the other compartment was visited, 
where we found the sow dead, with six of the young pigs 
around her, and the remaining five very ill, suffering 
from symptoms similar to those observed in the large 
pig that died. These were made to drink butter-milk, and 
they recovered. 
I proceeded to make a post-mortem examination of one of 
the small pigs, which presented the under-mentioned appear- 
ances : Lungs healthy, but rather of a blanched appearance, 
even for so young an animal ; the large blood-vessels were 
extremely congested ; the left ventricle of the heart empty ; 
the right ventricle filled, and also both auricles, with black, 
uncoagulated blood ; the investing membrane of the stomach 
intensely inflamed ; the internal mucous membrane in places 
detached ; the whole of the villous portion highly inflamed, 
presenting a dark red colour in some places, in others a lighter 
tint. There was the appearance of erosion on several parts, 
of the size of a sixpence. 
The pigs had not been fed for twelve hours previously, and 
none of the food given in the morning had passed the pylorus. 
There was nothing found in the small intestines but the 
natural secretions, and they appeared healthy. The vessels 
of the peritoneum were congested. These were the general 
appearances presented by several I then examined. 
It being resolved to forward the stomachs, with their con- 
tents, to Mr. Herapath, of Bristol, for analysation, I, in accord- 
ance with the wishes of the owner, took them to Mr. Herapath, 
and described what 1 had found, &c. 
The post has just arrived with a letter from Mr. Herapath, 
enclosing an hermetically sealed tube, containing a powder, 
which, with a copy of the letter, I will forward to you by the 
next post. 
Believe me, &c. 
(Copy.) 
Bristol; Aug. 13 , 1856 . 
Sir, — The pigs you brought me portions of have died from 
an excess of common salt given to them. Every pint measure 
