USE OF ARSENIC. 
371 
apothecary at Athens had in his stable horses which, for 
sleekness and beauty and fineness of coat, were the admi¬ 
ration of every one: to these arsenic was given in their 
food. 
As to the custom of giving arsenic to horses, it would seem 
to be even more general in Western Europe than the writer 
was hitherto aware of. He has spoken on the subject with a 
man of long experience; and on referring to arsenic, was 
rather surprised to find that the person in question spoke of 
the poison as he would of the usual horse-balls, or of any 
other well-known and generally received treatment. In 
Frankfort-on-the-Maine—so he told the writer—he had 
always understood that arsenic was used by horse-dealers to 
improve the looks of their animals. From what he himself 
had seen in different stables, he believed it impossible that 
certain appearances could be produced unless unusual means 
had been resorted to. Though he had always heard arsenic 
spoken of in stable-economy as something quite common, he 
had never employed it himself, nor had he ever actually seen 
it administered. The horses of Mr. R—*s equestrian troop 
were famous for the fineness and beauty of their coats, for 
their sleekness and general appearance, and he understood 
that such was owing to the use of arsenic. Indeed, at the 
season when he had seen them it would have been impossible 
for horses to have such coats, unless some unusual means 
had been resorted to. 
On questioning an Austrian cavalry officer on the use of 
arsenic, the writer was again surprised to find that to give 
this poison to horses was considered quite a common practice. 
“ I never give mine any,” he said, “ because it makes them 
sweat profusely, as soon as you require of them great exertion. 
It improves their looks, no doubt, and makes them sleeker. 
Mine are in good condition, and I am quite satisfied with 
them as they are. However, the use of arsenic is common 
enough, though I, for my part, don’t like it.” 
It has been ascertained that all animals are not alike sus¬ 
ceptible of the influence of this agent. Monsieur Gasparin 
experimenting with it on some sheep, found that it did not 
act as a poison on them, but actually became the means of 
curing pleuritis , under which they were then labouring. 
The property possessed by arsenic of preserving animal 
bodies is well known; also its action medicinally as a tonic 
and alterative. In skin diseases of a chronic nature its use has 
been advocated, likewise in farcy, and those affections of the 
respiratory organs which, if not judiciously treated, oftentimes 
terminate in glanders. It should be given in-small doses, 
