590 EXTRAORDINARY BALLOON ASCENT. 
in various places, resembling ecchymosis . The right lung was 
scirrhous, and firmly adherent to the ribs: there was an 
effusion of serum into that side of the chest. The other lung 
was in perfect health. Heart atrophied, and very flaccid. 
Intestines empty. Stomach full of undigested hay. 
These post-mortem appearances in the heifer, three days 
after her ascent, enabled me to speak with accuracy and 
precision of the effects produced on the ponies. I certainly 
felt surprised that two such practical members of the pro¬ 
fession, as Messrs. Hall and Gillingham, should in evi¬ 
dence have contradicted my depositions. I am forced to the 
conviction, they did so, either through ignorance or from 
sordid motives, and that they suffered their tongues to utter 
that which their judgment did not dictate. Neither of them 
saw the animals ascend or during their aerial flight They did not 
see them for a fortnight afterwards, not until after the summonses 
were issued by the worthy magistrate, who reluctantly dis¬ 
missed the case on the score of administering the justice of 
the law. Those gentlemen stated, in their practice, they were 
in the habit of lifting horses entirely off the ground for weeks 
together , without any ill consequences ensuing! ! Constant 
pressure will, as everybody knows, produce ulceration, and 
that to a very great extent. I have frequently seen sloughs 
of large magnitude come aw 7 ay from the bodies of horses that 
have been suspended for surgical purposes, when the sling 
has been accidentally left too tight for a fev T days only, or 
wdien the animals could not stand, in consequence of having 
paralysis of the hind extremities. Every author whom I 
have read on the subject deprecates the system of taking the 
animal entirely off his legs, as barbarous and inhuman. 
(See Mr. Percivail’ s f Hippopathology,’ vol. i, p. 22S.) 
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 
is, I think, deserving of the thanks, not only of the mem¬ 
bers of our profession, but of the whole community at large, 
for having arrested such exhibitions, by punishing the per¬ 
sons principally concerned in them. I would advise every 
veterinary surgeon to read the last annual report of the 
Society, and at the same time to enrol his name among the 
list of subscribers for the year ensuing. Our respected 
Professor, W. Sewell, Esq., has long been a subscriber. This 
is the only name with V.S. attached to it on the list; but I 
trust the next year will contain many more, and I shall only 
be too happy to be the medium of assisting such laudable 
objects. 1 do not like to be too personal, but an acquaint¬ 
ance of most London practitioners is included in the list, 
viz., Mr. John Atcherley. 
