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THE POISONING OF CATTLE WITH LEAD. 
For an account of “ the physiological action ” of the poison, 
which, owing to certain peculiarities in the structure and functions 
of the digestive organs in cattle are different in some respects from 
what they are in man ; as well as of the “ symptoms and post- 
mortem appearances,” “ treatment,” and “ analysis,” we refer the 
reader to Mr. Cuming’s practically interesting pamphlet. 
It would not be doing the author justice, however, were we to 
conclude this brief notice of his work without setting forth, and in 
his own words, that “ the claim” he rests upon is, “ not that he has 
discovered that the salts of lead are poisonous to cattle ; but that 
he has investigated and traced to its true origin an affection among 
this class of animals (cattle) of mysterious character ; of general 
and extensive prevalence and extreme fatality, &c.” 
In an “ Appendix,” Mr. Cuming adds, he has since met with 
“ a number of cases confirmatory of his expressed opinions and 
concludes with the following very pertinent remarks : — “ Last win- 
ter a deal was written in some of the medical journals about a few 
poisoned partridges that somehow found their way to the London 
game markets. But the carcass of an ox or quey would outweigh 
a vast number of partridges, and it would not be difficult to tell of 
many such being slaughtered after being incurably poisoned, and 
finding their way in the shape of butcher’s meat to the same city 
whence the poison had emanated : a curious instance, certainly, of 
retribution. It would be hard, however, to say that such meat was 
hurtful, until examination and experiment have proved it to be so ; 
on the other hand, it would be equally unsafe to admit its being 
wholesome without sufficient investigation : and in treating the 
subject as I have done, I would have judged myself short of my 
duty to the public had I failed to notice this view of it Having 
pointed it out, it is for others more interested to carry it further, if 
they think fit.” 
