148 
ON MOCHA OR BOMBAY ALOES. 
mater, on the anterior part of the left lobe of the cerebrum. The 
pia mater was also deeply injected. 
I have thus described (but not so distinctly as I could wish 
to have done) the symptoms, treatment, termination, and post¬ 
mortem examination, of this fatal case. As to the origin of this 
purulent formation in the arm, no opinion has been advanced; in 
fact, it appears to me to be wrapped in utter obscurity. Should, 
however, any of your readers unravel the mystery, I would beg 
them to make some observations relative to the treatment, and 
communicate their opinion through the medium of your valuable 
Journal. 
One observation, however, I would make with regard to those 
formations of pus designated consecutive abscesses. Inflammation 
and suppuration having taken place in the arm, absorption by the 
lymphatic vessels ultimately followed, and portions of the pus having- 
now entered the venous system, became mingled with, and vitiated, 
the general mass of blood. The circulating current, thus charged 
with irritating matter, changed the state of the capillaries of some 
of the structures, the result of which was collections of purulent 
matter in the situations in which they were found. 
ON MOCHA OR BOMBAY ALOES. 
By W. J. T. Morton, Esq., Lecturer on Veterinary Materia 
Medica. 
The value of purgatives, and the agents usually employed, are 
too well known to need any comment. They are therapeutics, 
nevertheless, often abused by ignorant pretenders, although, hap¬ 
pily, the light of science has dispelled the absurdity of their stirring 
up and ejecting the humours from the system ; and it has now 
almost ceased to be thought necessary, under ordinary circum¬ 
stances, violently to purge an animal, as was once the case. Cer¬ 
tain states of the body may demand active purgatives, but the em¬ 
ployment of these call for the judgment of the educated veterinarian. 
My object, however, is, not to point out the value of cathartics, but 
to offer a few remarks on the agents usually employed in veteri¬ 
nary practice in order to produce purgation in the horse. 
The possession of an agent on which reliance could be placed 
appears to have been long sought after, and is at length found. 
The older practitioners were at a loss how effectually to bring about 
the desired action of the bowels designated purging, and hence the 
absurdity of many of their compounds. By the common consent of 
tlie moderns, preference is justly given to aloes; and although this 
