106 
ON DRENCHING HORSES, IN REPLY TO PROFESSOR 
STEWART, OF GLASGOW. 
By Mr. Markham. 
In The Veterinarian for the month of September in the last 
year, a letter from Professor Stewart, of Glasgow, was inserted, 
warning your readers to beware of drenches, and warning every 
practitioner “ never to give a draught,” or drink as it is commonly 
called, “ to any horse unless he thinks that he will die without it.” 
As this was perfectly new doctrine to me, I was unfortunately in- 
duced to offer a few observations on this unqualified condemnation 
of a practice from which, after a pretty fair opportunity of observ- 
ing it, I had never seen any harm result. I am not aware that I 
used any improper or unbecoming language. I had but one mo- 
tive for writing, and that was the lively interest which I felt in 
the onward progress of veterinary science. I was afraid that this 
sweeping, and, as I thought, erroneous condemnation of “ the drink," 
might compromise some practitioners who were in the occasional, 
or, perhaps, frequent habit of administering medicine under this 
form. If I knew myself, I was actuated by the best feeling. What, 
then, was my surprise to find myself attacked in the most illiberal 
and scurrilous way! There seems to be a mixture of contempt 
and malignity. I have neither “ ability” nor “ experience.” I am 
not able “ to dispute or to confirm” the matter in question. “ I 
begin to dispute before I have learned to understand.” “ I am a 
new student,” with whom “ he does not think it useful to argue.” 
“ I must listen until I understand ; and, after that, I must get some 
experience, before I attempt to dispute.” 
I leave Mr. Stewart to discuss this matter with his own students : 
although, were I one of them, I know what would be my feelings, 
and the course which I should probably pursue ; but as a stranger, 
and addressing him certainly in strong but not ungentlemanly lan- 
guage, I ask him, and I ask all your readers, “ Where is the dis- 
tance throws me back so far, I may not boldly speak in right, 
though a Professor will not hear me 1” 
What was my object 1 It was to protest against the new theory 
of this professor, as to the extreme danger attending the adminis- 
tration of drinks. As long as I have known horses, and that is 
now a considerable number of years, veterinary practitioners were 
guided by certain circumstances connected with the horse, or 
oftener with the solubility of the medicine, as to the form in which 
it was to be given to the patient ; but it was reserved for my op- 
ponent to paint the harmless drenching bottle with twelve u mortal 
murders” in its neck, making our 
