42 DISEASE AMONG THE MID-LOTHIAN FOXHOUNDS. 
disease, with its accompanying symptomatology, naturally 
suggested an irritant poison as a probable exciting cause. I 
accordingly ordered the contents of the stomach and intes¬ 
tines of one of the dogs which had died, as well as its viscera, 
to be placed in ajar, which I brought along with me to 
Edinburgh for examination and analysis. The whole car¬ 
cass of another dog was subsequently sent to me for the same 
purpose, and a relative report was drawn up, which 1 annex, 
by Dr. Murray Thompson, Lecturer on Chemistiy. The 
cuticle of that dog, when skinned, was found—a fact de¬ 
serving to be noticed—to be highly erythematous. 
Not having had an opportunity of attending to the disease 
in its early stages, and desirous of obtaining information as 
to the progressive development of the symptoms, and of 
receiving the fullest particulars as to their alleged cause and 
origin, I addressed a letter to the huntsman on these points, 
and received the following answer: 
The Kennels, West Saeton; 
30th Sept., 1862. 
Sir,—In reply, I beg to inform you that I fed the hounds on Sunday, 
the 21st, at half-past nine in the morning. All the hounds were fed on 
the same kind of food and at the same time, and they fed as well as 
usual. At four o’clock in the afternoon I was walking them out on the 
grass, and three of the hounds I saw were very unwell; one of them, in 
particular, was lying on his belly with his legs stretched out quite stiff. 
I gave them castor-oil immediately. All the others seemed quite well. 
I was up at five o’clock on AVednesday morning, and when I went into 
the kennel not one of the hounds could move—all were convulsed and 
twitching—not one could touch food that day. The first bitch died at 
three, o’clock in the afternoon, the second at half-past four. The inside 
of every hound that died was in the same state as the one was which you 
saw. We have lost nine couple, and there is another couple that I have 
but little hope of. I have sent you a hound that I found dead in the 
yard this morning. She had not been hunted this season ; she fed well 
yesterday afternoon at four o’clock. Instead of taking her out on the 
grass with the other hounds, I turned her into the large yard, where the 
others have been; and whether she picked up anything or not I don’t 
know. The hind part of her, where you see the hair is off, \vas done 
when she was out with her puppies. I should like you to analyse her 
well. 1 am vei*y anxious to know what was the cause of her death. I 
shall send her to you by the train this afternoon, sealed the same as this 
letter. I must tell you, that of the three hounds I gave the castor oil to 
two of them recovered. 
I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 
(Signed) John Atkinson. 
To Professor Dick, Edinburgh Veterinary College. 
The following letter was sent by me to Mr. Atkinson, 
soliciting further information: 
