THE 
VETERINARIAN. 
VOL. XXVIII, 
No. 329. 
MAY, 1855. 
Fourth Series, 
No. 5. 
Communications and Cases. 
ON ARSENIOUS ACID. 
By H. Leppeii, M.R.C.V.S., Aylesbury. 
Gentlemen, — Probably no one who takes up the Vete- 
rinarian for perusal, has read with greater interest than 
myself the cases reported by Mr. Truckle, of Salisbury, in 
the March number, of poisoning by arsenious acid. As the 
account now stands, it appears rather a singular and mys- 
terious affair. 
I beg, through the medium of your journal, to ask Mr. 
Truckle if, in his investigation of the subject, he has dis- 
covered how and where the poison was procured? how it 
was administered ? in what quantity ? by whom, and for 
what purpose it was given ? Also, if one dose only had been 
administered, or if the mischief arose from numerous doses ? 
In doing this, I have to apologise to Mr. Truckle ; be- 
lieving, however, I shall be pardoned, if I may judge of him 
from the accurate and able manner in which he has favoured 
the profession with the report. 
I am in the habit of almost daily giving arsenious acid, in 
what would be considered rather large doses by those who 
are not so well acquainted with its effects as myself ; often, too, 
repeated at intervals of twelve hours, and continued over a 
long period, particularly in aggravated cases of nasal gleet, 
or chronic glanders, so that the quantity taken has sometimes 
amounted to several ounces. 
1 have frequently known its administration to be followed 
with the most favorable results, and I am satisfied that 
when it is given with the food, it does not accumulate in 
the stomach or system, and thus exert its baneful influence 
xxviii. 32 
