ATTACK OF LAMINITIS. 
259 
my arrival. With all the sang froid of a man conscious of 
his superior knowledge, he at once informed me that, at two 
o’clock in the morning, he had taken five quarts of blood 
from the pony, had given seven drachms of aloes, and, since 
my parcel of medicine had reached them, had administered 
one of my <c staling balls.’’ 
This information, before seeking to ascertain the present 
condition of the patient, caused me to look somewhat 
gloomily on the matter, for my “ staling ball,” besides other 
ingredients, contained ten grains of croton seed ! “ What,” 
thought I, “will be the result of seven drachms of aloes 
given to a thirteen-hand pony at two o’clock in the morning, 
succeeded by ten grains of croton seed at five, p.m.?’’ I 
had not long to “ pause for a reply for I soon ascertained 
that the pulse numbered 1 10 in the minute ; the mem- 
branes were much heightened in colour, and the respira- 
tions were both hurried and laborious; the faeces were 
being passed as usual ; the pony had been several times up 
and down, and had manifested some urgent abdominal pain 
during the morning. My first object was, if possible, to 
prevent the action of the overdoses of medicine, which I 
felt assured would produce fatal results if I failed to do so. 
Consequently Opium, the Extract of Catechu, and Pre- 
pared Chalk, with flour-gruel, w^ere given to a considerable 
extent, and the pony w r as purposely kept in an almost 
dormant condition. On the morning following, I saw my 
patient early, and was rejoiced to know that no purging had 
as yet taken place. The pony was apparently easier, the 
pulse had lowered ten beats in the minute, numbering now 
100 . 
The case w T as one of interest to me, and I regretted that 
my patient was so far from Sheffield, each journey entailing 
upon me a ten miles’ ride. I paid, however, a second visit 
that night, and endeavoured to make myself believe that my 
case was progressing favorably, although the bowels were 
more relaxed than they were in the morning, but there w^as 
now an absence of all pain. He had drank rather freely of 
the flour-gruel, but had evinced no desire for food, which, in 
the form of hay, had been offered ; and otherwise the symp- 
toms w r ere not discouraging. 
The next day I found that the purgatives had got into full 
action, and that the pony was much debilitated. Frequent 
pain had been exhibited, and the countenance was anxious. 
There was also increased heat in the walls of the fore feet, 
which excited my suspicion, and I directed that the shoes 
should be removed, the soles pared until quite thin, and 
