108 
ON DRENCHING HORSES. 
But to return to the subject, from which I may, perhaps, be for- 
given for deviating one moment, in self-defence. 
The Professor says, in his “ Letter to a Student,” in the same 
number with my letter to him, “ I am content to rest my defence 
on the impossibility of giving a couple of pungent or disagreeable 
draughts to each of tw'o hundred horses, without producing bron- 
chitis in seven or eight of them. I affirm that no man can do this, 
take what care he will.” 
Well, then ! this gentleman’s defence is perfectly at an end ; for 
I will prove, by facts, that what Mr. Stewart affirms to be impos- 
sible has been done, and that such drinks as are usually given are 
not at all dangerous, if proper care is taken, even although they 
may be composed of the most nauseous and pungent ingredients, 
aloes or ammonia. 
One of the largest horse establishments in Europe, is Messrs. 
Wimbush, Deacon, and Co.’s, near Belgrave Square, London. 
The sick horses are all under the superintendence of Mr. Mavor, 
Y.S., residing in New Bond Street. 
In the summer of 1836, when the influenza was raging in London, 
the sick horses came in so rapidly upon us that we determined to 
note their number, and the commencement, progress, and termina- 
tion of each case ; and between the 3d of March and the 28th of 
September, there were 127 cases of influenza. 
Now, every one of these horses had draughts given to them, and 
some of them as bitter and pungent as Professor Stewart could 
wish. A draught was administered, night and morning, and some- 
times three were given in the course of the day, until they reco- 
vered, which usually w r as from six to ten days. A longer time 
elapsed before a few of them w*ere convalescent. There were 127 
patients thus treated, and in not one of them did the slightest chest- 
affection remain. At no period of the disease w r ere there the 
slightest symptoms of bronchitis, but they shewed great debility — 
the natural consequence or concomitant of influenza; but from which 
they gradually recovered in less than ten days, and, in the course 
of a fortnight, ninety-seven of them w r ere at work again. The 
others were sent to the farm ; and they came back again in about 
three weeks as fresh as possible. 
Here, then, at the lowest calculation, were not merely Professor 
Stewart’s 200, but 1600 drinks given, and — I repeat it — some of 
them disagreeable and pungent enough, if aloes and ammonia could 
make them so, and without the slightest harm arising from them, 
for not one exhibited distress after the drink; and in not one did 
the slightest chest-affection remain. 
I have stated these cases, because all of them were chronicled. 
