CASES (3F TPIE LATE EPIDEMIC AMONG CATTLE. 243 
that powdered opium, placed on the blistered surface of the spine, 
is calculated to excite much expectation of benefit in these cases, 
and I am sorry it did not occur to me until too late. Bleeding in the 
acute stage is certainly a most powerful resource, and claims our 
earliest attention; but I doubt much the propriety of following it 
up; yet this, of course, must in great measure depend on the con¬ 
stitution and condition of our patient. 
In a case of traumatic tetanus, arising from a most severe case 
of broken knee, that came under mv treatment some time since, I 
certainly obtained a remission of the symptoms and a relaxation of 
the rigors by giving the oleum terebinthinse with opium; but the 
patient died. I do believe that much must be left to the skilful 
and vigilant observation of the practitioner, being persuaded that 
the causes producing tetanus are so various, that our success must 
depend much on the peculiar diathesis of the patient; and thus, 
sometimes, a remedy will avail under one circumstance that would 
totally fail in another. I must own that my principal reliance is 
on purgatives, both on account of the obstinate costiveness which 
attends this disease, and their powerful and revulsive influence on 
cerebro-spinal diseases; but no means should ever be neglected on 
which reason can ground a hope of relief. In this case I did not 
get a post-mortem examination; nor do I think it would have 
thrown much instruction on the case. The filly had ever been in 
excellent health and good condition, so that I must attribute this 
case to the long-continued wet and cold weather we have just 
experienced. 
CASES OF THE LATE EPIDEMIC AMONG CATTLE. 
By Mr. THOMAS Wardle, V.S., East Sheen. 
From the epidemic raging among cattle, this place has not been 
exempt, although it has not assumed so serious a character here as 
at some other places; at the same time I have had some severe 
cases. When it first made its appearance, in July last, it was very 
amusing to hear several know-alls pretending to give a description 
and the cause of this disease. Their treatment was equally absurd. 
I will relate the practice of one of them. 
The patient was a poor Welch heifer. The first step he took 
was to bleed to the amount—the owner said—of a pail-full: he 
then gave, in the course of one day, port wine, ale, porter, ginger, 
aniseeds, cummin seeds, pepper, and several others, which the 
owner could not remember. The next day the poor patient was 
no more. They opened her, and, to use the words of this Master 
