250 ON the present epizootic among horses. 
London Veterinary College, who, until the latest period of his ex- 
istence, stubbornly adhered to his favourite theory, “ that under 
no circumstances whatever could the application of cold prove 
otherwise than salutary to an animal.*' I regret that there are 
too many of his pupils staunch supporters of this fallacious doc- 
trine. Would that all such practitioners, who are so unfortunate 
as to become affected with the present epidemical influenza, 
could be bled, blistered, bolused, and then turned in a state of 
nudity into an open field for the “ sedative influence of the super- 
incumbent atmosphere ,** to accomplish the remainder of what was 
so well begun. It would be but a just judgment for the cruelty they 
have so unmercifully inflicted on their dumb though highly sen- 
sitive patient, the poor suffering horse. The principle of treat- 
ment is quite as applicable in one case as in the other. 
In matters of medicine and surgery, flagrant ignorance, al- 
though a highly plausible defence for the infliction of unnecessary 
suffering by mal-treatment, yet does not, in the slightest degree, 
extenuate the culpability of the practitioner. If incapable of pro- 
fiting by the observations of others and his own experience, he is 
unfit, either from the stupidity of his mind or want of education, 
to exercise the practice of a profession requiring inductive rea- 
soning for its elucidation. Such an individual may, perhaps, suc- 
cessfully follow his vocation as a profitable trade , but can never, 
by any possibility, advance it as a scientific profession. 
To return, however, to the treatment of the disease at present 
under consideration. Fomentations with warm water will be 
found useful in abating the inflammatory action of the eyes, 
throat, and legs. If there be much cutaneous irritability, or sore- 
ness of the latter, a decoction of poppy-heads may be used with 
advantage. 
State of the Bowels. — One of the most important features of 
this disease is the morbid susceptibility of the mucous membranes 
to be intensely acted upon by the exhibition of what in other 
cases would be found merely a mild laxative. Here the action 
of the purgative is not confined in its effects to the digestive tube 
alone, but unfortunately extends its injurious influence to the re- 
spiratory system ; the mucous membranes of which — already too 
susceptible — immediately on purgation setting in, sympathise 
with those of the intestines, and there is, then, pneumo-bron- 
chitis in addition to the former affection, a dreadful complica- 
tion, which under such circumstances generally proves fatal, the 
vital forces being already too far gone to enable the patient to 
withstand the attack, even with the assistance of the most con- 
summate medical aid. Such a case is rendered still more hopeless 
if bleeding has been already had recourse to, in combination with 
