THE VETERINARY ART IN INDIA. 
175 
his extremities with spirit of turpentine, and he had taken two 
doses of the same spirit, each containing four ounces. Two 
bolusses had also been given him, each containing two ounces 
of camphor and opium. When, however, he was reduced to the 
last stage, I was willing to give a full trial to stimulants ; and 
knowing that nothing but the most powerful ones could affect a 
system so exhausted, I made the farriers mix half a pint of spirits 
of turpentine with an equal quantity of boiling water, which was 
administered, and in a few minutes had the desired effect — a 
warmth beginning to pervade the body, even to the extremities. 
The general spasm or convulsion left him, and in a few hours he was 
perfectly restored. In this particular instance, however, where so 
much stimulus had been employed, we wereobliged to guard against 
its effects, as soon as returning vital warmth succeeded: this was 
effected by congee, and an emollient diet. By this disease, many 
horses are suddenly destroyed in this country ; and I would 
strongly recommend a similar course, though not so violent, when- 
ever the least sign of spasm or convulsion is observed, which, from 
my own experience, I can assert will be almost always successful. 
In hot climates, most of the chronic diseases in the horse (as 
ulcerated liver) originate from obstruction, and obstruction is 
generally the result of that debility in the system which is pro- 
duced by exhaustion. Spasm and diseases with nearly all the 
variety of symptoms, as internal pain, & c., which we find in this 
climate, are also induced by exhaustion, and which almost inva- 
riably yield to a proper application of excitement. 
In diseases of the opposite class, that is, when the natural stimu- 
lus has not been sufficient, the excitability of the system accumu- 
lates, and becomes morbid, producing debility, languor, and many 
symptoms which very much resemble the disease of the other 
class ; hence it. is that we should be very particular in a few ge- 
neral inquiries as to the age of the subject, the climate he has 
been exposed to, and the course of life he has pursued, which will 
give weight to our conclusions. 
This class generally prevails in cold climates, where the inha- 
bitants are unacquainted with luxury; also among the young 
and sedentary. In the whole animal world the same principles 
exist, and in Europe, and the more northern parts, where diseases 
of this class generally prevail in the horse. In respect to the 
symptoms, they are very difficult to describe: diseases in this 
class seldom or never attack with that immediate fatality which 
they do in this country, unless we admit inflammations of the 
lungs and intestines. In all cases where there is an accumulation 
of excitability, the smallest possible stimulus acts in the most 
powerful manner, as is explained in infancy, where the irritabi- 
lity is great, the most sparing stimulus is requisite. To explain 
