REVIEW— SPONGIO-PILINE. 
339 
utility such an application will be likely to prove to them in 
practice, not only from the labour and trouble it will save, but 
from the extreme convenience of its application ; seeing that the 
spongio-piline admits of being cut and moulded into any and every 
shape and size that may be required for each particular part. 
Every veterinarian knows but too well the trouble and vexation he 
has to encounter in applying poultices to some parts, while to others 
he never dares to think of their application, however anxiously he 
may desire it : here the spongio-piline will be found eminently 
serviceable. We have used it for sore throats, confining a piece 
of the proper size and shape simply by means of the throat latch 
of the headstall ; we have also used it for sprained legs, confining 
a piece of requisite size to go round the leg by means of a long 
linen bandage, or, what perhaps is better, a flannel-roller bandage. 
For convenience of application, for bibulousness, for lightness, we 
must confess we are highly pleased with the spongio-piline ; the 
only question with us being whether or not it is sufficiently per- 
manently retentive of heat to render it equivalent to a poultice# 
There is, however, one case — and one in particular — in which, 
though we have not as yet had an opportunity of putting it to the 
test, we feel no hesitation in pronouncing the spongio-piline likely 
to prove of signal service, and that is, the case of colic “ gripes,” 
or enteritis. While the animal is rolling about and pawing in a 
paroxysm of pain, we can well imagine that a broad sheet of 
spongio-piline, dipped in water as hot as the hands can bear it, 
wrung out, and applied at once to the abdomen, would be likely to 
prove quite as effectual as a fresh- flayed sheep-skin, and every- 
body knows the difficulty in most places, and in some the impossi- 
bility, of obtaining the latter. 
Mr. Markwick, the inventor and patentee of the spongio-piline, 
has also formed out of it pads, to answer the purpose of stoppings, 
for horses’ feet; and excellently calculated the spongio-pilous sub- 
stance of itself is for that purpose, each pad soaking up readily as 
much as two ounces of water. But the pad, as now constructed, 
will not remain in the foot, and, moreover, is not sufficiently durable 
for the purpose of foot-stopping. What we should recommend Mr. 
Markwick to do, is to stick the spongio-piline upon a gutta percha 
