438 ADMINISTRATION OF ARSENIC TO ANIMALS. 
pretty generally spread in the mountains of Austria, of Styria, 
and especially at Salzburg, in the Tyrol, among the chamois- 
hunters, the author, Dr. Tschudi remarks, that amongst 
animals, horses are those to which arsenic is most commonly 
given. The following is the process adopted : — Each groom 
has his ow T n mode of giving it, but adheres rigorously to his 
method when once commenced ; yet all agree on this one 
point, that the arsenic should be given to the horses only at 
the new moon. Some give it every day at this time, in 
doses of three or four grains. Others administer it during 
two days in succession, then omitting it during two days ; 
increasing the dose on the following two days, and so on 
until the full of the moon. During the intervals, they ad- 
minister to the horses an aloetic purge once a week. The 
grooms observe most scrupulously the rule to administer the 
arsenic to the horses only after having taken their food and 
drink. The vehicle in which they give the arsenic is a piece 
of plain bread. If the animal is in use whilst the drug is 
being administered, it is wrapped in a piece of linen, or it is 
scattered upon a piece of lard or bacon, wfflich is also 
wrapped in linen, and fastened either to the bars of the 
manger or to the snaffle. It appears that a portion of the 
poisonous drug is eliminated with the excrement, for such 
fowls as eat of the grains of oats contained in the horse- 
dung of such as have been submitted to this arsenical treat- 
ment, have been observed to be killed by so doing. These 
grooms contend that arsenic is an infallible preservative against 
the colic, which horses are liable to that are fed upon rye, 
which grain, as is well-known, predisposes to that disorder. 
The employment of arsenic in the case of horned cattle is 
less frequent ; it is given only to oxen, and to calves de- 
signed to be fattened. In this case, too, the same lunar con- 
ditions are respected as were noticed above, and the arsenical 
powder is administered to the ox, in gruel mixed with 
chopped straw, and which has been infused in hot water. 
The effect is described as perfectly astonishing, as regards the 
increase in the size of the animal, although it does not gain 
proportionally in weight. On this account butchers will 
seldom buy, at sight, cattle fattened in this manner, for the 
real weight is considerably less than the apparent weight of 
the animal. It is scarcely necessary to remark, that this 
arsenical process is only put in force for animals destined for 
fattening, and never for those intended for the plough, or 
for draft of any kind. In Styria, as in Austria, there are 
cattle-breeders, who, on account of adopting this practice, 
are known by the name of Hidribauer or Arsenic-men. 
