THE VETERINARY ART IN INDIA. 
25 
The interval between the infliction of the wound and the in- 
vasion of the symptoms varies considerably, both in man and the 
horse. The mean average is from three to eight weeks. 
As to the treatment, we would first of all state frankly, that, as 
to cure, after the disease has manifested itself, none is recorded. 
Hence the importance of prevention, and that mainly by the 
speedy and complete excision of the wounded parts. At the 
moment the animal is bitten, no time should be lost in endeavour- 
ing to get rid of the poison. Free washing may do something, 
and after this a firm compress between the wound and the heart, 
until a veterinarian or some competent person is procured who 
should excise freely, and apply caustic. Copious venesection has 
proved the most soothing remedy ; and with a hint from the ex- 
perience of Magendie we must close. 
This physiologist, knowing the influence of largely substituting 
water for blood in the circulating system, tried the experiment 
on a mad dog that was in a furious state, and that instantly 
became tranquil, and so continued for five hours. Again he in- 
jected one pint of water at 100° Fahr. into the vien of a man’s 
arm : directly the patient, from being highly rabid, became tran- 
quil, and the pulse fell from 150 to 80 in a minute. The convul- 
sive motions ceased ; he drank water without difficulty, and con- 
tinued to improve until the fifth day. In another case, death 
followed, as in this ; but at the moment of experiment there was 
a great and sudden change for the better. The patient lived 
eight days after the injection, and died, possibly from another 
complaint. In attempting this treatment, the veterinarian re- 
quires unusual dexterity, as well as caution. 
THE VETERINARY ART IN INDIA. 
Communicated by Mr. T. Mayer, sen., F.S., Newcastle-imder- 
Line. 
Having accidentally met with a small elementary treatise on 
the veterinary science, containing observations on the pathology, 
physiology, and diseases of the horse, with a description of the 
mode of shoeing adopted by the British cavalry for preserving 
the natural functions of the foot, by Mr J. Grellier, surgeon, pub- 
lished at Madras, in the year 1802, I shall, if you consider it wor- 
thy of your pages, send you from time to time the whole, or greater 
part of it, as a matter of curiosity ; in the first place, issuing, as 
it has done, from the Indian press, and being the only veterinary 
work extant having its principles of practice founded upon the 
VOL. xv. 
D 
