22 
VALERIANIC ACID IN PLEURO-PNEUMON1A. 
The animal gave no evidence of any constitutional 
disease; and we contented ourselves by placing her in a 
large, roomy, loose box, and adopting the usual treatment re¬ 
sorted to in such cases. 
The case progressed very favorably until the 24th—four 
days after admission—when about noon she was observed 
by the groom to suddenly fall, and to be slightly convulsed. 
We being close at hand, our attention was immediately 
called to her, when it was found that the pulse was im¬ 
perceptible and the eye amaurotic, with other indications 
of approaching death. In the course of two or three minutes 
after, on entering her box, we perceived that life was extinct. 
We were naturally much surprised at so sudden and un¬ 
expected a result, and reflecting on the probable cause, we 
examined, first the condition of the mucous membranes, but 
as these showed no appearance of internal haemorrhage 
having taken place, we came to the conclusion that possibly 
the state of the heart would explain it. 
During the morning the mare had fed well, and appeared 
in her usual spirits. She had also taken a little walking 
exercise only two hours previous to her death, exhibiting at 
the time scarcely any lameness. 
Post-mortem examination .—The lungs and pleurae were 
healthy. The pericardium contained about three quarts of 
highly coloured serum. Its walls were also considerably 
thickened, and studded with numerous bands of lymph on 
the inner surface, of a bright yellow colour. Several small 
patches of inflammation were likewise observed in the 
ventricles of the heart, near to the valves of this organ. The 
heart itself was also larger than usual, and much softened. 
ON THE USE OF VALERIANIC ACID IN PLEURO¬ 
PNEUMONIA OF CATTLE. 
By C. Hunting, M.R.C.V.S., South Hetton. 
I read with great interest, in your journal for November? 
Mr. Smale’s communication on the use of valerianic acid in 
the treatment of pleuro-pneumonia in cattle. 
If I understand the article aright, it would appear that 
Mr. S. has been perfectly successful in ever?/ case in which he 
has tried it, and that no appearance of the disease remained 
after the use of the acid for some eight or ten days. 
