G68 MR. youatt's veterinary lectures. 
dose of aloes, according to the height and form of the patient, 
or his already known susceptibility to the impression of purgative 
medicine; and add to that from six to ten grains of the croton 
nut. Blister the whole of the lumbar region, and the posterior 
part of the dorsal; or what, perhaps, is better, cover the loins 
with a mustard poultice, frequently removed. Cover with plenty 
of warm clothing—give plenty of warm water, or thin gruel—■ 
supply plentifully with mashes—remove both hay and corn— 
back-rake, and throw up frequent injections. You will soon 
find out whether there is any likelihood of success. They are 
usually not very lingering cases. If you imagine that the case 
is going on favourably, do not, on that account, relax in your 
attention, for a relapse too frequently occurs, and it is worse to 
contend with than the original complaint. You may give your 
patient green meat—a little hay; but do not be led away by the 
common notion of debility—do not suffer him to have a morsel 
of corn; and, above all things, not one grain of cordial or 
tonic medicine. Remember that, nine times out of ten, palsy 
in the horse is an inflammatory complaint, or, at least, the 
result of inflammation. 
There is one way in which you may give apparent tone and 
strength to the part. As soon as the heat and tenderness have 
a little abated, and the animal regains, to a slight degree, the 
use of his limbs—or if, the inflammation having passed away, 
it becomes a case of chronic palsy, put a charge over the loins, 
and an extensive and a stimulating one. To the usual pitch and 
tar, and wax—and the common pitch is as good as the more 
expensive Burgundy—add a portion of powdered cantharides— 
a quarter of an ounce to a pound of the charge. You will ac¬ 
complish three purposes, and three good ones. In the stimulus 
of the charge on the integument, you will have the principle of 
counter-irritation, and that more than supplying by the con¬ 
tinuance of its influence its want of immediate activity. In this 
thick plaister, covered, as you cover it with flocks, you will have 
a defence against the cold, and against the changing temperature 
to which the animal is exposed; and you will have a material 
and a very useful support for the limbs. Let your charge be hot 
enough of the cantharides—extensive enough—thick enough— 
covered sufficiently with flocks, and then, while you can never do 
harm by it, you will occasionally effect wonders. One thing 
never forget,—that the greater part of the remedies for palsy, 
simply considered as a loss of nervous influence, are worse than 
useless here. The disease is based on inflammation, and it is 
that which you must subdue. 
Diseases resembling or producing Palsy, — Inflammation of 
