EFFECTS OF MERCURY ON HORSES. 
525 
pears to have rendered so little service, that it would seem as 
though he set but little value upon it; unless it be as an altera- 
tive, or to confer, by admixture with aloes, increased power on his 
“ dose of physic.” In former times, calomel stood in some re- 
pute as an anthelmintic or vermifuge : but nowadays we have, or 
think we have, medicines better adapted for that purpose ; and, 
in consequence, mercury so far is discarded. I shall, first, shew 
by the experiments I have made, what the real or simple effects 
of calomel are on horses; and, secondly, point out those diseases 
in which I conceive it may be administered with advantage. 
Case V. — A horse was brought to me having (from a blow, 1 
believe) the transparent parts of one of his eyes completely ob- 
scured, from effusion of lymph into the anterior chamber. Take 
some blood from the jugular vein of the same side, and give 
daily the following ball : — 
R Hydrarg. chlorid 3iss 
Pulv. opii 9j 
Farin. sem. lini Jss 
Theriac. q. s. ut. fiat bol. 
At the expiration of a week the eye appeared clearing. Con- 
tinue his balls, and let him have blown into his eye, daily, one of 
these powders : — 
Pulv. zinci sulphat gr. vj. 
Pulv. sodii chlorid 9iss 
Pro pulv. vj. 
By the time he had taken ten balls — two ounces all but a 
drachm of calomel — his mouth became sore, and he cudded his 
food. His eye recovered; the effects of the mercury gradually 
subsided ; and, in the end, all did well. 
Case VI. — Another horse took the same quantity, 3iss of 
calomel, daily, for chronic specific ophthalmia affecting both 
eyes ; but without opium. The consequence was, diarrhoea was 
produced. Half-a-drachm of opium was now added to each ball. 
The diarrhoea ceased, and the eyes became much benefitted ; and 
the horse was afterwards sold. No sore mouth, in this case, was 
produced, although twelve balls were taken — eighteen drachms 
of calomel : a circumstance accountable for on the score of the 
medicine at first running off through the bowels. 
Case VII. — To a horse suspected of having the glanders, and 
given up for experiment, three drachms of calomel were given, 
mixed with linseed meal and syrup into a ball. No discoverable 
effect ensued. Four days afterwards, half an ounce of calomel 
was administered, similarly compounded. On the evening of the 
second day after its administration the horse became dull, and 
