REMARKS ON THE DISCUSSION ABOUT DRENCHES. 329 
With the two first I agree, viz. “ that draughts, particularly 
when pungent or disagreeable, are dangerous, and that by no care 
can the danger be altogether avoided.” And not only do I agree 
with Mr. Stewart, but I think much credit is due to him for calling 
the attention of students and practitioners to this matter. I must 
add my testimony to the danger attending the administration of 
pungent draughts. I have known bronchitis and chronic cough 
produced, and, still more frequently, the tongue and back of the 
mouth excoriated and discoloured to a sad extent. This circum- 
stance, indeed, has for a long time past induced me to abstain from 
the administration of either the oil of turpentine or spirits of harts- 
horn for cases of colic, and to rely on medicines less dangerous, though 
much more expensive and even more efficacious. 
The excoriation of the mouth arises principally from the obsti- 
nacy of some horses in refusing to swallow the medicine, in conse- 
quence of which the pungent portions of the medicine becomes 
separated, in a measure, from the vehicle in which they may be 
administered. I do think that this circumstance, though experi- 
enced by many, has not been pointed out before ; but it verifies the 
saying, that though one man may lead a horse to the pond, fifty 
can’t make him drink. 
With Mr. Stewart’s third point — “ that no draught should be 
given unless the horse is in danger of dying without it,” I cannot 
agree. There are many cases in which draughts may facilitate 
recovery, though death may not be threatened ; and in such cases, I 
take it, the practitioner is fully justified in giving them the prefer- 
ence, and, in this, encountering whatever risk there may be. At 
the same time, I agree with Mr. Stewart that draughts should not 
be given when balls will suffice. It should, however, be borne in 
mind that the chief danger is in the administration of pungent 
draughts for colic, and for this disease draughts are imperatively 
called for. With other drenches the danger is comparativelv 
slight. In the treatment of influenza some practitioners advise the 
administration of oily purgatives ; spirit of nitrous ether, too, is 
a favourite medicine with many. Now I take it there is but little 
danger attending the administration of these medicines, if common 
care is used, and I would always incur this danger when I considered 
such medicines desirable. 
I have no objection to Mr. Stewart’s fourth point, nor to the 
sixth ; but I have to the fifth, for the reasons before stated. 
I cannot by any means coincide with Mr. Wardle in his advice 
to give a draught without any assistance ; it is trusting too much to 
the horse’s good-nature, for he has only to shake his head, or lower 
it, and half the draught may he wasted. I do not doubt that in 
many cases it may be effectually accomplished, particularly with 
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