POISONOUS EFFECTS OF FERNS ON CATTLE. 
329 
off, a cord cannot be applied, and one of the facilities af¬ 
forded for getting the head into the proper position is thus 
lost. If the legs are amputated, the operation ought to 
be effected at the shoulder—removing the scapula. In this 
way you give more room internally, and facilitate delivery. 
By inserting strong iron hooks into the back of the neck of 
the foal you might pull the mare out of the stable, but 
would never bring away the foal. So much pulling, when 
you can have no yielding, can only be productive of injury # 
In my opinion, all means ought to be tried before destroying 
a valuable mare. The Caesarean operation may even be had 
recourse to, as in this way you might at least succeed in 
saving the foal, which, in some cases, may be considered of 
even more value than the mare. 
Facts and Observations. 
STYPTIC PROPERTIES OE ELM-BARK. 
Messrs. Editors, —Allow me to direct your attention to 
the styptic properties of the inner bark (liber) of the slip¬ 
pery elm. In two or three instances, when haemorrhage has 
taken place from avascular tumour on my own person, I have 
found a free application of its powder immediately to staunch 
the blood. 
The shops, I believe, are supplied with it from America; 
where, from its mucilaginous and astringent properties, it is 
often successfully given in cases of dysentery and diarrhoea. 
I am, yours, &c., Amicus. 
[Modern practitioners, from the feeble powers possessed 
by the elm, have discarded it. Its action is dependent prin¬ 
cipally on tannic acid, 13 grains of which were found by Sir 
H. Davy to exist in 480 grains of the bark, besides which it 
contains some gum and mucus.] 
POISONOUS EFFECTS OF FERNS ON CATTLE. 
A farmer in Westmoreland, in consequence of the scar¬ 
city of fodder during the last winter, collected the young 
sprouts of brackens (ferns), chopped them, and mixed oil- 
