27 G 
ON THE MEDICINAL AGENCY OF NITRE. 
our profession. To the first only of these qualifications can I 
lay claim ; to the second I have but small pretensions ; and of 
the last am entirely deficient. It is with no small gratification 
that l peruse the articles in your present number on hydrocyanic 
acid by Mr. Hales, and tartar emetic by Mr. Gloag; also those 
papers and discussions on poisons, which Mr. Morton is so in- 
strumental in bringing before the Veterinary Medical Association, 
and which will, doubtless, fill up that vacancy which has so 
long existed ; and if my humble endeavours have had any effect 
in bringing that neglected subject before the notice of the pro- 
fession, I am amply rewarded, and may now retire with satis- 
faction, seeing the field of investigation so ably occupied. 
The inferences in which Mr. M. does not entirely coincide 
were the result of my observations during the experiments. I 
have not asserted the absolute inutility of nitre : it may be con- 
veniently employed in simple cases, or where a placebo only is 
wanted ; but in those requiring active measures, we cannot de- 
pend upon its efficiency, nor command its services to the extent 
which may be requisite. It seems that the diuretic virtues of 
nitre are very limited ; for both in Mr. M.’s experiment and my 
own, the quantity of urine was far less than we might have 
anticipated : the increase of dose did not produce increased action. 
Mr. Morton observes, that if glandular structures are slightly 
inflamed, their function is increased, but if highly so, they 
cease to secrete* ; yet by our more powerful diuretics we may 
increase the function of the kidneys to a much greater extent 
than any noticed in these experiments, and this without acting 
upon the intestines, or producing that general irritability shewn 
by the frequent voiding of both dung and urine. 
In reply to Mr. Morton’s queries I would observe, that the 
inflammation which streaked the neck of the bladder was evi- 
dently recent ; and I am confident that, had Mr. M. been pre- 
sent at the post-mortem examination, he himself would have 
immediately concluded that retention of urine was caused by 
this constriction, which I think we should not be justified in 
attributing to any other cause than the action of the nitre: but 
there are other particulars not alluded to by Mr. Morton, which 
might have formed an interesting subject for discussion, could 
I have brought it before the Veterinary Medical Association ; 
and I very much regret that distance prevents my attendance on 
so useful and instructive a Society, the reports of which form a 
valuable part of your Journal. 
* Mr. M. will perhaps recollect that there was no inflammation of the 
kidneys in either of the post-mortem examinations ; therefore the observa- 
tion will not apply in this instance. 
