185 
POISONING OF CALVES BY ARSENIC. 
By Messrs. Cox, M.R.C.V.S., Ashbourne. 
The science of chemistry is becoming rapidly diffused, so 
much so that that which was formerly looked upon as merely a 
shadow, has now become a reality; and that which was sought 
after so eagerlyby the alchemists has at length developed itself; 
for such is the application of chemistry to the arts and 
sciences generally, .that with energy and perseverance the 
philosopher’s stone may be found. No man, thinking either 
of his own benefit or that of others, must now waste his 
time in mere idle surmises, but be up and doing; for he may 
rest assured that time will not stay its busy wheel, but con¬ 
tinue to hurry on with the same rapidity as ever. 
If the science of chemistry be considered a necessary part 
in every perfect curriculum, how much more ought medical 
men to have studied that which is more especially connected 
with their profession, than those to whom the benefit lies 
simply in its knowledge and not in its application ? 
Several cases of poisoning of animals have been brought 
before the public during the last few years, in which the 
practitioner of veterinary medicine may have been thought 
in very few instances to have figured favorably, he having 
been obliged to call in the aid of the analytical chemist, thus 
showing how important and necessary is the instruction of 
the veterinary student in the science of chemistry. 
It has fallen to our lot to attend a great number of animals 
that have been poisoned from time to time with different 
substances. 
During the month of June last, as you see Ry the bill 
inclosed, Mr. Salt, of the Hulme House, Warslow, Stafford¬ 
shire, twelve miles from this place, sent for us to see some 
calves and pigs. On our arrival, we found that four fine 
yearling calves and two pigs were already dead, and we pro¬ 
ceeded at once to make a post-mortem examination of them. 
Speaking in general terms, the internal viscera were appa¬ 
rently healthy, but the coats of the stomachs and bowels 
were much inflamed throughout, there being a much darker 
hue in some places than in others. These morbid appearances 
led us to suspect that the animals were poisoned, and that 
some mineral poison had been the agent. On making 
inquiry as to the symptoms the animals had manifested, 
we were told that colicky pains were present in some, but 
not in others, and that diarrhoea existed in every case. 
