87 
A CASK OF POISONING BY NITRE. 
were several ecchymoses, or rather protuberating blotches, pre¬ 
senting uneven fungous growths of a brilliant red colour, about 
the size of a small pea, and closely set together. The largest of 
these blotches was nearly round, and measured four inches in 
diameter; the others varying in size from a shilling to a half- 
crown. There was not the slightest trace of ulceration or the 
formation of matter: they were of a livid colour within, and 
easily scraped off with the finger-nail. The cuticular membrane 
in various places was corroded, and the remaining part easily 
peeled off from the subjacent membrane. Where corrosion 
had taken place the mucous membrane was of a dark purple 
colour. There were also a few ecchymoses on the lining mem¬ 
brane of the small intestines, but not a vestige of inflammation 
in the oesophagus. All the other parts had a healthy appear¬ 
ance except the ala of the liver adjacent to the stomach ; this 
was approximating to a clay-like colour. 
Being questioned by the owner as to the cause of death, I as¬ 
serted that there were appearances of poison; and Mr. Chap¬ 
man, a surgeon, and well versed in coiDparative and morbid 
anatomy, was at my request immediately sent for; and he (after 
examination) agreed with me that the animal had been poisoned ; 
but there was some difference between us as to the substance 
that had been used. One of the servants had previously told us 
that the groom—who w'as an obstinate, perverse fellow, and dis¬ 
missed on the morning on which my services were first required— 
had given no less than one pound of saltpetre in less than a 
fortnight, in order to cure the cold under which the mare was 
labouring; and as an essential adjunct thereto, he had galloped 
her every day. 
[The mare was poisoned, and by the nitre so absurdly ad¬ 
ministered by the groom.—E d.] 
A CASE OF THE MOST VIOLENT COUGH, AND THE 
PERFORMANCE OF TRACHEOTOMY IN A COW. 
By “ A Yorkahire Farrier and Cow-leech ” 
I SHOULD not have taken the liberty of writing to you, were it 
not for the high respect I have for you as editor of the work on 
Cattle, and the love which I have for veterinary science. I am 
sure that I shall not offend you when I state tliat you have not 
included all the diseases of cattle, and particularly one that is 
frequently fatal; I mean inflammation of the heart, and which, 
I think, must prevail in most parts of the globe. 
