ASTHMA AND PULMONARY EMPHYSEMA. 
419 
that proper diet plays an important role in the treatment 
of this disease. Asthma may originate from a cold or from 
inhaling irritating matter, certain effluvia, etc., or from indi¬ 
gestion. 
We have in human patients a kind known as “Hay 
Asthma,” which is claimed to be excited by pollen-germs, or 
some effluvium from flowering grass; this is more catarrhal 
in form. 
The pony, a mare, was sent to me June 13th. 1 com¬ 
menced my treatment with subcutaneous injections of sulph- 
atrophine on the track of the pneumogastric on a level with 
the thyroid cartilage in one-eighth grain doses twice a day,, 
increasing it on the fourth day to one-fourth grain ; pupils 
greatly dilated, mouth very dry, salivary secretion almost 
stopped, thirst reduced to a minimum, abdominal respiration 
greatly diminished; so then against the bronchial spasm we 
have a pretty good remedy, and with the theory of a thicken¬ 
ing of the bronchial tubes in view, I commenced the admin¬ 
istration of drachm doses each of iodide of potass, and bicarb, 
potash twice daily, continued for tehi days, when symptoms 
of iodism began to develop, viz., conjunctivitis and discharge 
from the nostrils, swelling of the extremities, and a tendency 
for tail and mane to become loose. 
On the 28th I substituted for the bicarbonate of potash 
bromide of potash for three days, and then stopped all medi¬ 
cine, as I deemed the animal suffiently under the influence of 
iodine. 
July 8th to the 12th gave only stramonium leaves in two 
drachm doses ; the results so far exceeded all my expectations, 
and 1 believe that I speak within bounds when I say that 
with a combination of this kind spasmodic asthma can be 
cured, that is when there is merely a thickening of the bron¬ 
chi without an extended pulmonary emphysema. 
The efficacy of the alkaline iodide probably depends on its 
eliminative and deobstruent action increasing the secretion of 
the kidneys and the bronchial membrane, and promoting the 
absorption and dispersion of the thickenings and deposit in 
the tubes, bronchial glands and at the roof of the lungs. 
