676 DISEASE FROM THE PRESENCE OF HYDATIDS. 
After the impressive lesson I received from destroying the 
grey horse in the autumn of 1847, it became a settled conviction 
in my own mind that the two cases were identical in character ; 
and with this conclusion, I resolved upon an endeavour to saturate 
the leg with mercury, by continual inunction, with a view of de- 
stroying the parasitic family within it. 
In August, I became still more confirmed in the soundness of 
my previously expressed conviction, from the bagged appearance 
of the leg in different parts below the knee. In particular, inside 
the leg, immediately under the knee, was situated a soft tumour- 
like bag filled with fluid, immediately beneath the skin. I had 
the full inclination to lay it open : what might have been the 
result of such an act it is impossible to say ; certain it is, I should 
have become fully acquainted with the nature of the malady I was 
treating ; but, by a reference to the leg, it will be seen that the 
opening of one cyst would not have been alone sufficient, since 
there are apparently several; and if, in the cutting these parts 
without the consent of the owner — whom I could seldom see, on 
account of his being often confined to his room with severe 
asthma — great irritation, and perhaps death, had ensued, I should 
have only reaped a load of censure for my temerity. It was as 
well that a better discretion prevailed ; since, in a conversation 
afterwards with Mr. Akerman, I found he was indisposed to 
concur in opinion with me, as before stated, that it was a similar 
disease to that which affected the grey horse, because, as he said, 
of its rarity : and, after some discussion upon the point, it was 
arranged that the leg should be fired. The sequel I have narrated. 
After the horse’s death, Mr. Akerman very properly sent me 
the leg for inspection. On dissection, I found the part I wished 
to open was a perfect cyst, filled with the same linseed oil-like 
fluid, and white bodies, described in the grey horse’s case ; also, 
that there was a partially condensed mass of these bodies, some- 
what agglutinated together, but easily separable by careful hand- 
ling, floating in the interior of the cyst. By placing the mass 
in water, and moving it about, the white bodies became more dis- 
tinctly visible, and were readily detached : but, Mr. Editor, I leave 
it in abler hands to make further comments ; merely adding, that 
W. G. Everett, Esq., M.D., of this town, upon inspecting the leg 
to-day, considered the cyst a species of hydatid, and stated that 
he had seen a nearly allied kind in human muscle. 
I am, Sir, 
Your most obedient servant, &c. 
Devizes, 
15th Nov. 1848. 
P.S. I have replaced the cyst which I have spoken of as dis- 
