EFFECTS OF MERCURY ON HORSES. 
528 
Mercurial Erythema. 
The mare, the subject of the above rare and singular disorder, 
had, two years before, laboured under all the symptoms of “ bro- 
ken back,” of which, after a long course of treatment, she had 
completely recovered. The next time she was brought to me 
was for being lame, apparently in the off fore foot. She reco- 
vered from her lameness, and was a third time made my patient 
for a cutaneous affection of the same fore limb, spreading upon 
the back of the knee and cannon ; and w hich, by purgatives and 
lotions used with bandages, was speedily removed. Three months 
afterw'ards the same returned, and was now accompanied by tu- 
mefaction of the leg and heat of it. She was blooded from the 
plate- vein, took purgative medicine, used the warm bath, and 
subsequently had recourse to lotions and bandages again. She 
recovered in a month. In another month she had a relapse of 
her skin affection ; and this time took alterative doses of calo- 
mel for it, and used unguent picis liquid #, ; and with this treat- 
ment, in five or six weeks, got well again. Three months after 
this third recovery, she returned again with the same complaint. 
The limb now was swollen from the knee downwards; it was 
bare of hair; the surface was covered with pimply eruptions; 
upon the back of the knee scurfy, above and below, for the space 
of two hands’ breadth ; the parts felt warm, and appeared itchy. 
Give her at night, in her mash, hydrarg. chlorid. 3j ; and let her 
take, next morning, bol. cathart. Use lotio plumb, diacet. dilut., 
with bandage to the leg. The physic worked well, and carried 
away all the swelling; leaving heat of surface of skin, and de- 
squamation. Let her take, every night, hydrarg. chlorid. 3j, and 
use the following ointment: — 
R Unguent, picis liquid* Jiv 
Hydrargyri bichloridi 3j. — M. 
After she had taken eight of the powders of the chloride, her 
limb looking very much benefitted, she was ordered a dose of 
physic. This operated sufficiently — not immoderately — but, on 
the day of the physic “ setting,” the mare seemed languid and 
unwell while out at exercise, and was in consequence led back to 
her stable. From this time she was kept in her stall, looking 
dull and refusing her food, but without any manifest disease or 
symptom of pain. On the second morning after the setting of 
the physic, the mare was found lying down, apparently very ill, 
and unable to rise. With much difficulty she was made to rise, 
and was got into a loose place. I was called to her at nine 
o’clock the same morning. I found her standing very infirmly 
