236 LANCASHIRE VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
ral and vegetable tonics had been administered ; but all in vain. 
The horse’s diet had been completely changed; sometimes he had 
grass; soft food, such as boiled barley, linseed, Swede turnips, 
carrots, cut and long sweet hay, clover; at other times hard beans 
and oats, barley, &c.; but all was of no avail. We diagnosed 
the case to be one of protracted disordered state of the lining 
membrane of the stomach and bowels, chronic disease of the liver, 
possibly some chronic disease in the mesenteric glands, or ab¬ 
scesses in the spleen. Of course this was all conjecture. We 
prognosticated unfavorably. 
About this time the groom turned the horse out into a paddock, 
and while there he was observed to go to a bare place and begin to 
lick the ground. The next time the veterinary surgeon went there 
the groom told him this, and also stated that he did not allow tlie 
animal to continue to lick the earth, thinking it would do him harm. 
The veterinary surgeon was struck by the circumstance, and at once 
turned it to account; he ordered that a grass sod should be cut, 
brought to the horse, and turned upside down in the manger. The 
animal instantly seized it and ate it with avidity. Another and 
another grass sod was cut and given to him, which he ate ravenously. 
The day after, and for two or three days, he had one or two sods a 
day; but his craving seemed to be subsiding, and his natural appe¬ 
tite returned, until, as the groom said, the horse could eat corn as 
fast as he could carry it to him. The animal from that moment 
rapidly recovered his flesh and strength, and to this hour is in as 
good health and in as good condition as any horse in the whole 
establishment. 
Mr. Wood, veterinary surgeon, of Wigan, can corroborate the 
case in every particular. 
Mr. Brooks will favour the society with two papers at the next 
meeting. 
Alfred Challinou, Secretary. 
