ELECTRICAL PHENOMENA. 
89 
attack of the mucous membrane of the bowels, in which there 
were no tubercles, but an immense quantity of lymph. The 
pulse having a very inflammatory jerk, I took six quarts of blood 
from him in a very copious stream, which weakened him so much 
as to cause him to require support: he then fell into a profuse 
perspiration, and soon after rallied. 
The horse gradually recovered, and was purchased by Captain 
Byron — a near relative to our poetical leviathan — and was put in 
training under the direction of one of Mr. Field’s “ fast-going 
ones*,” but who, though a good theoretical trainer and rider, and 
possessing some knowledge of turf matters, was comparatively 
ignorant of practical scientific training. 
Poor Harkaway was overdone; but even in this plight he ran 
the winner of the Queen’s Cup to half a head. I merely state 
this to shew how nature will rally when put all right. The gallant 
owner has entrusted the horse to my care for the last five months, 
and he is now, to all appearance, in perfect health. 
One phenomenon, however, is worthy of notice, viz., when 
friction is used, the body throws off a quantity of phosphoric mat- 
ter, which shews itself in various ways, according to the instru- 
ment used. If it is dressed with whalebone dandy, it has the 
appearance of phosphorus rubbed on a wall in a darkened room ; 
if with a horse-brush, the hair of which is confined by wire, it 
throws out sparks; if rubbed briskly with the fingers, it shews 
the light, and emits sparks also. I believe it will be found to be 
the case with horses that have not had the strangles in the regu- 
lar way, that phosphoric matter does accumulate in the system to 
a great extent (which I have before alluded to), and that this, 
with hard work, bad keep, and foul air, is the hot-bed, if not the 
real cause, of farcy and glanders ; or if not, why is there so much 
diversity of opinion as to the infection or non-infection of this 
plague among horses? If the combustible is within, it only 
wants the application of some exciting cause to exhibit itself ; but, 
if there is no powder, the flint may strike in vain. 
These observations are the result of many years’ experience ; 
and perhaps at some future time, with your permission, I may be 
tempted to enlarge upon this topic, so interesting and important 
to the development of veterinary science. 
Perhaps you will also suffer me to allude briefly to one of the 
remedies used in the above case, viz., the vapour bath. I am 
induced to do so from reading with some surprise, in your last 
Number, a description of a vapour bath, as a new invention, but 
in no respect differing, except in size, from what I have had 
Blackwood. 
