680 POISONING SHEEP WITH AliSENIC. 
of the skin, some of them even more than a week after the 
application. 
May I ask of you the favour, providing it suits your conve- 
nience, to have a package of the powder which composes the 
abovementioned bath analysed? My reason for begging the 
favour at your hand is, that my unfortunate employer is not a 
wealthy man, and his loss by actual death, and injury done to 
the twenty-four suffering brutes that survived, cannot be less than 
a hundred pounds, and, consequently, he is not at present very well 
able to pay a chemist for the trouble of analysing ; while at the 
same time, and from the same cause, he is equally unable to bear 
the loss, if he can at all get by law that which justice, in my 
humble opinion, would at once award to him. For though 
does not advertise his bath to be used on cattle, still, like all 
these abominable secret preparations, it is so lauded for utility, 
innocency, and safety, in the advertisements, as completely to 
have thrown the user off his guard, and thereby to have led to 
the misfortune in a very direct manner. For instance, he says 
in his advertisement, which is now before me, that it is “ free 
from those corrosive poisons and sulphureous preparations so 
frequently used in other dipping stuffs.” Now, if free from 
poison, why should it kill cattle ? 
If it contains poison, surely there is imposition in issuing such 
an advertisement. 
The post-mortem examination exhibited the most violent in- 
flammation and destruction of every organ and membrane that 
secretes. The brain did not escape, and the stomach was much 
corroded, even in those who died from absorption of the poison. 
Copy of Analysis of Powder above referred to, by Dr. Fyfe. 
“ I have submitted to chemical analysis the sheep salve sent to 
me by Mr. Dick, veterinary surgeon, and find that it contains 
very nearly two-thirds of its weight of white arsenic, along with 
potashes and a little sea salt. 
“ I consider this a mixture that ought to be used with extreme 
caution, owing to the enormous quantity of arsenic which it 
contains. 
(Signed) “ A. Fyfe, M.D., 
“ Lecturer on Chemistry.” 
“Edinburgh, 13 June, 1843.” 
P.S. I have not heard the result of any proceedings, nor have 
I received any further particulars. 
W. D. 
