570 
INDIAN VETERINARY PRACTICE. 
disease cured ; — by cured, I mean eradicated. The sores in- 
variably dry up and heal after a while, but the horse is liable 
to the disease every rainy season. I content myself with the 
constant use of astringents and escharotics, and often touch 
the ulcers with a hot budding- iron ; feed well, and give plenty 
of exercise 
In some of your late numbers I see mention made of the 
native blistering fly, Mylabris cic/iorii. When I was stationed 
at Neemuch in 1848-49, I collected large quantities of 
them, and have used nothing else in my blistering liniment. 
They are much stronger than the Spanish fly, and do not 
affect the kidneys in the same way. When caught, I killed 
them with the steam of boiling vinegar, — a superior plan 
to that used in the medical depots, where they kill them by 
immersion in hot water. By my method their strength is 
not impaired, besides which, insects will not eat into them. 
For use, I boil one ounce of bruised flies in one pint of 
linseed oil, and strain. This I find a most effective blister, 
and it never blemishes. 
I must now bring this rambling letter to a close. Should 
you like to hear from me again, tell me so, and I will have 
much pleasure in sending you an account of any interest- 
ing cases I may meet with. You must not be too severe 
in your criticisms, remember I am only an amateur. Wish- 
ing the Veterinarian every success under its present able 
editors, 1 remain, your obedient servant. 
[We believe we have many friends in the profession in 
India, and although we might not, from feelings of respect 
towards them, have chosen so freely to speak our minds, yet 
w T e cannot refain from stating that the animadversions con- 
tained in the above communication are somewhat deserved. 
As there is nothing covert in the act, and as the writer 
comes forward boldly, manifesting besides a right feeling, 
we hope they will accept the reproof in the spirit it is 
evidently meant. 
We have always thought that our brethren in the far 
East might do more towards the advancement of the art 
than they have hitherto done ; and it is, therefore, a source 
of much gratification that we are enabled to say that we 
have received good promises of future support for our Journal 
from them ; the earnest of this is contained in the present 
number. A noble and almost untrodden field thus lies before 
us. We shall be very glad to hear again from Captain 
Hickey.] 
