DISCUSSION ABOUT DKENCHES. 
G49 
Take of sulphate of magnesia, six ounces; nitre, two ounces ; 
powdered gentian, two ounces ; ginger, half an ounce; sp. nit. 
8eth. one ounce and a half: mix, and give one-half immediately, 
and the remainder in twenty-four hours afterwards. 
14M.—The animal apparently well, except that some weakness 
remained. Liberal diet. 
July VHth ,—I called to see my patient, whom I found in good 
health, and yielding her former quantity of milk. I found also 
that the fractured process had united. 
THE DISCUSSION ABOUT DRENCHES. 
By Prf^essor Stewart, of Glasgow, 
In the last Veterinarian, Mr. W. C. Markham has made 
some observations upon a paper which I published in September. 
In that paper I contended that it is dangerous to give draughts to 
horses, and that this danger cannot be entirely avoided. It is 
important to the veterinary surgeon that these two propositions 
be examined, and their truth or falsehood ascertained. If the 
first be true, we ought never to give a draught when a ball will 
do: if the second be false, we are liable for the price of every 
horse which our draught destroys. To illustrate the danger, I 
mentioned twelve instances. Eight out of the twelve patients 
died ; the other four were saved. They were promptly put under 
treatment, and it was, probably, the treatment that saved them. 
None of the twelve shewed any symptoms of thoracic disease till 
after the draught had been administered. 
Rather than let the subject pass unnoticed, I am willing to 
make some reply to the remarks of Mr. Markham. I do not 
think they need any; but I am in hopes that this paper may 
stimulate some other person, of more ability and more experience 
than Mr. Markham possesses, to consider what I have advanced, 
and either to dispute it or to confirm it. Mr. Markham does 
neither; and he writes as if he could not. 
He says, he could not but feel sorry upon reading my paper, and 
that he is astonished and dismayed that I should strongly recom¬ 
mend all draughts to be given in glass bottles. I merely said, 
that a strong wide-mouthed, smooth-necked bottle is better 
than a horn.” I cannot yet see any thing strong in such a re¬ 
commendation ; and as little can I see any thing in it to excite 
**astonishment and dismay.” Mr. Markham seems content to 
tell us what he feels; but he ought also to tell us what he thinks. 
He may be sorry, and astonished, and dismayed ; but he should 
VOL. XI. 4 II 
