575 
ON DRENCHING THE HORSE. 
die without it.” It is the fear of death that is to make us fly to 
the aid of medicine thus administered. Now suppose that I found 
my horse labouring under the effects of spasmodic colic,—even if 
I did not think that he would die, but that I could relieve him 
of a considerable portion of his pain, would I not immediately 
give him a drink ? 
Again, we are told that the safest way of giving a draught, is 
to administer it when the horse is lying, as he mostly always is 
in the cases which imperiously demand a draught. Now, Mr. 
Editor, I am sorry for this; forthetime is arrived when the whole 
agricultural portion of the country is looking up to the veterinary 
profession, and watching its every movement, while the amalga¬ 
mation between veterinary and agricultural science is effecting. I 
say, I am sorry to read this, and that these unprofessionable people 
should be led to suppose, that one and another most valuable 
animal that refused his food, and was heaving at the flanks, and 
pawing the ground last night, was not thought to be dangerously 
ill, and consequently little was done to him, because he did not 
lie down. Perhaps the veterinary surgeon was not sent for, for 
this very sapient reason, although it was evident to him who had 
but half an eye that the horse was ill, seriously ill. I have for 
many years had the management of several hundred horses, 
and know from practical experience the sad consequences of losing 
time in cases like these ; therefore, I entreat all who may chance 
to read this, or who are in any way connected with horses, not 
to be deluded by this strange and erroneous statement, but, the 
moment they are satisfied that a horse is ill, to send for the 
medical man, although the patient may be standing, and obsti¬ 
nately standing. 
To what practical veterinary surgeon is it not known, that in 
many of the most dangerous diseases to which the horse is sub¬ 
ject, such as pneumonia, pleuritis, and bronchitis, in fact, in all 
affections of the chest and bronchi, the horse stands, and will 
stand in spite of us? In fact, he will not lie down at all until 
he is either in the agonies of death, or is so much recovered as 
not to require any medicine. 
Professor Stewart then cites twelve cases as proofs of the dan¬ 
ger of giving drinks. 
"Case I.—A horse had three drinks administered to him: he 
coughed after the last of them, and subsequently shewed symp¬ 
toms of bronchitis, for which he was treated. He ultimately 
recovered : but was broken-winded. 
"Case II.—A draught mare, was drenched—she coughed once. 
Next day she had bronchitis, but received liltlc attention. She 
died on the ninth or tenth day. 
