SWALLOWING OF A GREEN MAPLE STICK. 
105 
Having spun out my description of Fig. 1st, 2d, and 3d, 1 
will not trouble you with any further remarks on the 4th, at 
present. 
THE SWALLOWING OF A GREEN MAPLE STICK IN 
THE ADMINISTRATION OF A DOSE OF PHYSIC. 
By Mr. J. Tombs, V.S., Pershore. 
I w as requested in haste, on Dec. 2, 1842, to see a cart-horse 
labouring under very equivocal symptoms, resembling gripes. 
Three days prior to my seeing him, he had given to him seven 
drachms of aloes, for a humour in the hind leg. It was given 
with a green maple stick, which was rather brittle. He bit the 
end of the stick off with his grinders, and champed and swallowed 
it with the ball. The medicine did not purge. 
On inquiry I ascertained that he eats and drinks very little — 
he has lain down a great deal, and occasionally rolled and looked 
back to the epigastric region-— he crouches his back up — contracts 
his abdomen — stretches out his head on the ground, and gapes 
similar to a horse that is nauseated. Pulse is a little too frequent. 
These symptoms, in my opinion, indicated mischief in the stomach. 
I bled him, and ordered a strong dose of oleum ricini, with a 
double view: — first, to increase the secretion of gastric juice, 
thinking that would have a tendency to dissolve the stick; and, 
secondly, to increase the peristaltic motion of the intestines, which 
would force the stick onwards, if not wholly digested. I ordered 
slop-food to be given, and carefully examined the fauces and 
found them uninjured. 
3 d . — He is not in any pain : the pulse is natural, and the 
bowels regular. Give slops. 
From the 4th to the 8th he gradually improved. He is now 
quite well. There has not been any of the stick voided with the 
faeces, although they have been minutely examined from time to 
time, therefore it has probably been digested. 
A SUSPICIOUS CASE OF POISONING. 
By the same. 
Nov. 18 th y 1842. — M y advice was requested respecting a young 
cart-mare that had been ill three days, and treated by a farrier 
for a cold. He had given her 3ij of aloes, combined with a cor- 
