440 
TAIT BUTLER. 
that from half a dram to half an ounce is sufficient to cause 
movements of the bowels. Prof. Vogel reports that pure 
glycerine, or when diluted with one-third of water, when in¬ 
jected into the rectum, causes more or less muscular irrita¬ 
tion of the rectum, and produces a remarkably prompt move 
ment. In a few minutes after the injection of glycerine, we 
can notice, through the action upon the mucous membrane of 
the rectum, the animal becoming a little uneasy ; the anus 
contracts and dilates spasmodically ; the tail raised at times, 
then arching of the back followed by defecation. Two 
or three movements are the average caused, frequently more, 
and it is claimed, from the condition shown, that they come 
from the large intestines, and the action is not continued 
longer than ten minutes. It has been shown that the action of 
glycerine in constipation is due to its hygroscopic power, 
drawing the moisture from the tissues of the rectum, slightly 
irritating the nerves and causing a contraction of the rectum. 
The experiments have shown that it does not make much 
difference about the quantity injected, but the quality. Pure, 
undiluted, neutral glycerine, specific gravity of 1.225 1° I>2 35> 
is the best to use. 
Dr. Schindelka has used glycerine on over two hundred 
and fifty patients; (horses, goats, dogs and cats) with posi¬ 
tive results in every case. He claims that in young or old, 
sick or well horses, about eighty drops are sufficient to cause 
defecation. For cats twenty drops were used and for goats 
thirty drops. 
VETERINARY EDUCATION IN AMERICA. 
By Tait Butler, Y.S., Davenport, Iowa. 
One of the regular committees of the United States Veter¬ 
inary Medical Association is that on Intelligence and Educa¬ 
tion, and by referring to Chap. V., Sec. II., of the by-laws I learn 
that the duties of that committee are ‘to collect and report to this 
Association recent veterinary medical facts and intelligence.’ 
This definition of its duties, together with its reports, certainly 
indicate that it is a committee on intelligence only, and as 
