EFFECTS OF MEDICINE ON HORSES. 
349 
As veterinarians, 1 think, we may admit that there is much truth 
in these remarks of Dr. Philips. No doubt, a great deal more 
medicine is given than comes into operation, the effects increas- 
ing; nothing like in ratio with the dose ; and that small doses are 
in general to be preferred, being more efficacious in proportion 
than large doses, providing they are given at short intervals, and 
for a length of time continued. In a case, or on an emergency 
where a certain palpable effect is required to be produced within 
a given time, there can be no question about the absolute neces- 
sity of administering a certain large or determined dose of medi- 
cine ; but, when the case or circumstances are of a nature not 
to admit of immediate removal or palliation, on the contrary 
are such as can be benefitted only by the gradual working of the 
remedy and the elapse of time, the system is in general more 
perfectly saturated with the medicine, and less harmlessly so, 
administered in minute doses at frequent intervals than in larger 
doses at longer intervals. I am, however, letting the considera- 
tion of this interesting point lead me away from my immediate 
subject — the medicinal properties of arsenic. 
About the time these experimental inquiries were making, 
what was called “ The Tasteless Ague Drop” was in great re- 
pute : an empirical remedy, that was afterwards successfully 
imitated by Dr. Fowler, who found it to be a preparation of 
arsenic. Fowler’s Solution, as it used to be called, was an 
arseniate of potash : an alkaline solution of the mineral, which 
has since been introduced into the London Pharmacopoeia under 
the name of Liquor Arsenicalis. This is much the most con- 
venient and safest form of exhibiting arsenic in human medicine, 
and in general is that which will be found the preferable one by 
veterinarians : there being neither perceptible smell nor taste in 
the solution after it has undergone extreme dilution, it has al- 
ways been by myself exhibited in the horse’s ordinary beverage 
— plain cold water. Should his delicately perceptible organs of 
smell appear to detect something foreign in his water, the suspi- 
ciousness — for the aversion seldom amounts to more — will be 
overcome by keeping the animal without any other but the me- 
dicated water. I will here transcribe two cases from my Register, 
which will, I think, sufficiently elucidate the effects of arsenic 
in minute division in solution. 
Case I. — In March 1813, a black horse, nine years old, in 
excellent condition, fine in his coat, very muscular, and having 
an appearance of being sound in constitution, with an appetite 
as good as that of any horse in perfect health, although the sub- 
ject of glanders, was submitted to the operation of the same 
solution as was exhibited in the foregoing case. 
VOL. XVI. 3 A 
