372 
USE OF ARSENIC. 
as from five to ten grains daily; for although the horse will 
resist the influence of comparatively large quantities of this 
agent, nevertheless temerity in this respect has often been 
productive of serious consequences, it then operating as an 
irritant poison. In an experiment performed by us, eleven 
drachms and fifteen grains sufficed to destroy life; the dose 
having been gradually increased from five grains per diem to 
eighty grains, when all the symptoms indicative of poisoning 
by arsenious acid presented themselves, and, despite the em¬ 
ployment of antidotal and other measures, a fatal termination 
took place in a few hours. 
In chronic affections of the nervous system, as neuralgia 
and chorea, in chronic rheumatism, and some other diseases, 
a trial of arsenic has been recommended. In India it has 
been long celebrated for the cure of the bite of the cobra da 
capello and other poisonous serpents. 
We do not intend to speak here of its action as a caustic. 
It is unquestionably a potent external application, and is said 
to combine with the gelatinous tissues; but the great objec¬ 
tion to its employment arises from its absorption into the 
system, when its effects are as marked as if administered by 
the mouth. It has been stated that this only takes place 
when small quantities are applied, whereas a large quantity 
quickly destroys the organization of the part, and thus puts 
a stop to absorption. We are, however, of opinion that we 
have better and safer agents of this class. We remember an 
instance in which, for the removal of a warty excrescence at 
the base of the ear of a horse, some arsenical compound was 
applied, and it caused so much sloughing that the whole of 
the external ear came off. Many cases are on record of 
the topical application of this agent proving fatal. 
Reverting to its therapeutic influence, we may be permitted 
to add—although this has been elsewhere recorded by us— 
that Mr. Lepper, M.R.C.V.S., Aylesbury, in a letter which 
is now lying before us, states that arsenious acid is with him 
a favorite medicine, especially in those cases of debility 
supervening catarrh, and where the nasal discharge con¬ 
tinues for some time after the acute stage of the attack has 
passed off, and fears are entertained as to the results. He 
gives it in ten-grain doses, daily, in the animal's provender; 
but never in the form of ball . To this mode of exhibition he 
attributes most of its beneficial influence, or at any rate to 
his never having witnessed any unpleasant consequences 
arising from its use for many years, not even when he has 
doubled this quantity. 
By some practitioners the Liquor Potassa Arsenitis, P. L. } 
