240 
HYDRIODATE OF POTASH AND 
shot last year, but has left a great number of colts in this neigh- 
bourhood — pretty — fine horses generally — but I think I am speak- 
ing within bounds when I- say that four out of five have either 
curbs or spavins, or both ; but as they are young yet, curbs seem to 
abound. Nearly as many, in proportion, are bad-tempered brutes. 
I have consequently been called upon to treat a great number of 
curbs, and have, in almost every case, succeeded in removing them 
by the use of the hydriodate of potash. The form which I consider 
best is to mix one drachm of it with seven drachms of weak mer- 
curial ointment for young horses, and for old horses I use the strong 
mercurial ointment. Let two or three drachms of the ointment be 
well rubbed into a curb or a thickening of the sheath of theflexor 
tendons, and let the horse take his accustomed exercise. In curbs 
or thickening of the sheath of the flexor tendons I always have the 
heel of the shoe raised. By these means I have effected a cure in 
cases which used to be considered hopeless, without the firing 
iron. 
I have also used the hydriodate of potash in various enlarge- 
ments of glands and other parts. In one case of a rupture of some 
of the fibres of the suspensory ligament, at its insertion into the in- 
ternal sessamoid bone, I made two or three deep strokes with the 
firing-iron, and then applied the ointment daily for a fortnight, with 
very considerable advantage. 
Three years ago a gentleman brought me a fine Hercules mare 
colt, that had two very large curbs. He said he would have her 
fired, and no one should persuade him out of it ; but at last I pre- 
vailed on him to try what the ointment would do, telling him if it 
did not effect a cure I would not charge him for it. The ointment 
was had, and properly used ; and in three weeks there was no en- 
largement left. The mare was ridden as usual during its applica- 
tion ; but, of course, rest in a large loose place would have been 
preferable. She was sold at Oxford last year for 70 guineas. Had 
she been fired, she would have been at once reduced to a stage- 
coach mare. I have not yet tried its effect on spavins, but will on 
the first opportunity. 
Last July I had a five-year-old horse sent in from the country, 
about five miles : he had large swellings, that had risen up suddenly 
that day, over various parts of his body, about the form and size of a 
common plate turned upside down. One eye was nearly closed, and 
the lips and cheeks very much swollen. The pulse was 70, and 
small, and the membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth very much 
injected. I bled him at once, and before I had taken five pounds 
of blood he was very much distressed, and I thought would have 
fainted. The neck being pinned up, he had potass, hydriod. 3 ij, and 
sulph. magnes. 3 iv, given him, and repeated every three hours. The 
