ACCOUNT OF A HORSE SWALLOWING SPONGE. 633 
June number of this year’s V eterin arian to the administra- 
tion of calomel ; but we tried this drug in the three fatal cases 
without success. 
The great quantity of flies this season have so irritated the skin 
of cattle, particularly on the fore extremities, as to cause great in- 
flammation and sloughing, and people imagine here that it is a 
“ distemper,” being so prevalent. 
I remain, my dear Sir, 
Your’s obediently. 
ACCOUNT OF A HORSE SWALLOWING SPONGE. 
By Mr. Philip Fry, F.S., Great Torrington. 
Seeing in The Veterinarian of last month a case of a 
horse having swallowed a piece of sponge, and you asking in 
your leading article “ Have any of our readers met with a similar 
case?” I beg to send you the following one, if you deem it worthy 
of a place in your valuable Periodical. 
On October the 25th, 1838, I was requested to see a horse 
belonging to Mr. James Thomas. He told me that the animal 
had swallowed a piece of sponge the night before, and that he 
appeared to be in great pain. Having never heard of such a case 
before, I rather doubted the fact of his swallowing the sponge. 
The reply of the owner was, that he was certain of it, as he had 
placed the sponge in the window himself the night before ; and, 
to be doubly sure, had taken another piece and offered it to him, 
which he immediately seized, and it was with difficulty he could 
get it from him again. 
I found the horse labouring under symptoms of spasmodic 
colic, such as I frequently meet with at that season of the year 
in horses belonging to small farmers, who keep them on straw 
and hay of the worst kind. 1 gave him a carminative draught and 
afterwards an oleaginous one, with aloes in solution, which ap- 
peared to relieve him ; in fact, every symptom left him except a 
little dulness. 
Attention having been paid to his diet, &c. he appeared to be 
going on well until Nov. 3d, when I was again sent for. On 
my arrival, I found him labouring under violent symptoms of 
spasmodic colic. I administered a carminative draught, which 
gave him considerable relief; but still there was a dulness, with 
occasional looking at his flanks, and pawing and stamping with 
his feet, therefore I afterwards gave him an oleaginous draught 
VOL. xv. 4 Q 
