8 
INDIAN HEMP. 
guine expectations will be more than realised, where the use of 
a powerful narcotic is indicated. Its peculiar action in cases of 
tetanus and paralysis, as I said before, I leave to you, gen¬ 
tlemen, to offer an explanation and opinion on, and shall feel 
obliged for any editorial remarks you may be pleased to 
make on its duplex action, if I may so name it. “ Facts are 
stubborn things,” and I simply narrate what has occurred in 
my practice. 
The next case is of another class. The surgeon of my 
corps sent me a valuable Arab, the property of Colonel Innes, 
of the 61 st regiment, which, though the distance was short, 
could scarcely crawl to my hospital. The animal had 
been ridden hard into cantonments, over a road as hard as 
adamant, and that for thirty miles. The result was laminitis 
in a severe form. The treatment I adopt and find most suc¬ 
cessful is that recommended by Mr. Gabriel some time since. 
The animal was bled largely, and a large dose of physic admi¬ 
nistered. He was then cast, setoned, and the bleeding feet 
immersed in large warm poultices. All febrile symptoms were 
combated with simple febrifuge medicines combined with 
anodynes, and the result was “ resolution,” and eventually a 
perfect cure. 
Where a narcotic is indicated, I would recommend even 
in these cases u bhung,” instead of either opium or bella¬ 
donna, and I hope ere long to see an extract of hemp in 
general use in all such cases, though I almost fear it would 
deteriorate in its properties in the form of an extract, as 
hyosciamus does in this country of severe extremes, and 
thus by not equalling the fresh and green leaf in its powers, 
would thus, in many cases, disappoint the hopes of the prac¬ 
titioner ; however experience, as in all other cases, will 
eventually settle this point. It is to be lamented that the 
nature of our patient is such, that we have to cast in the 
generality of our operations ; but over a practice of nearly 
twenty-four years I have fortunately met with but two 
accidents. In both cases the animal was well thrown and 
secured. One was for firing for old injuries of the flexor 
tendons, and the other for castration. The first, an animal 
six years old, and peculiarly thin skinned, struggled so 
violently the moment the iron was laid on, that, without my 
knowledge, he injured his spine. He remained quiescent 
after this throughout the operation, but when freed from the 
hobbles he could not rise; perfect paraplegia had taken 
place, and he was shot by order. This was a case where I 
would now give the hemp a fair, full, and perfect trial. The 
second case, the animal was also properly thrown and secured 
