16 
BOTANY AS APPLIED TO VETERINARY SCIENCE. 
whenever we have a case where, to all appearance, there are 
decided indications of a strong tendency to effusion, when 
the skin is smothered and choked, the system suppressed 
and oppressed, the natural play of electric forces impeded 
and insulated, when cold air, cold water and mild febrifuge 
medicines (as advocated in my papers in the Veterinarian , 
vol. xxxiii), do not give relief, then I say have recourse to 
clipping at once; strip the integument of this non-conductor, 
this thick hairy covering, on the third or fifth day before 
effusion has taken place, with a view to prevent it; and even 
if effusion has commenced it is the most likely course to save 
your patient. You may take my word for it, the chances 
of saving your patient will be enhanced tenfold, and you can 
then employ the fomenting rug round the thorax. How does 
it act, do you ask again? 1 reply, I cannot tell in what man¬ 
ner it acts, it is one of nature's mysteries; but this it seems 
to do, it breaks the spell, for it at once dispels and disperses 
the stagnant electricity, removes the rankling arrow in the 
vitals, and thus flings out the death-dealing venom. 
The young practitioner may perhaps hesitate; he may feel 
very sensitive and jealous of his reputation to even suggest 
this innovation into old time-honoured practices; his em¬ 
ployer even may be at first startled and demur, but if he 
possesses the full confidence of his employer, as he ought to 
do, the reply will be, “ Well, you know best; if it is abso¬ 
lutely necessary, and you are of opinion that it will benefit 
the animal, let it be done at once.” 
BOTANY AS APPLIED TO VETERINARY SCIENCE. 
By W. Watson, M.R.C.V.S., Rugby. 
{Continuedfrom vol. xxxiv, p. 665.) 
Occupying a prominent position amongst the plants yet 
to be described, whose leaves, stems, or roots supply a large 
amount of food for animals, will be found the c ‘ Daucus carota” 
(common carrot ), and the “ Pastinaca sativa” (parsnip). They 
both belong to the class of Exogens, the sub-class Calciflora, 
and to the natural order, “ Umbeltiferaf which may be known 
by the following characters: “Calyx superior, either entire or 
five-toothed; petals five, inserted on the outside of a fleshy 
epigynous disk, usually indexed at the point; stamens five, 
incurved in aestivation; ovary inferior, two-celled, crowned by 
