486 EASTERN COUNTIES VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
adopted, wliicli appears to me to be—1st. The removal of all sources 
of irritation. 2nd. The mitigation of the spasm. ;5rd. The support 
of the system. As to the first, see that your patient is placed in a 
comfortable, secluded, roomy place, which must be strewn with 
tan, chaff, or cut straw, and made dark ; if in cold weather, clothe 
the body and bandage the legs. If the case is traumatic, poultice 
the injured part or use warm fomentations, and apply a sedative, 
as opium and camphor, arnica, or chloroform. Some persons advise 
the use of slings, to prevent the patient lying down. To this pre¬ 
caution Mr. Greaves attaches very great importance, and attributes 
the death of his fatal cases to their getting down, being unable to 
rise, and thereby frightening themselves to death. By some vete¬ 
rinary surgeons it is recommended to remove the shoes; and if this 
can be done without alarming the patient I should adopt the advice. 
The second indication is to mitigate the spasm, and for this 
purpose I believe that hydrocyanic acid is by far the best agent; 
but to obtain the full benefit of its use it is necessary to observe the 
many little details herein enjoined, as upon their faithful observance 
the prospect of recovery will materially depend. It is also of the 
first importance that the acid should be of reliable strength and 
purity, as if kept too long exposed to light, and in badly-stoppered 
bottles, much of its power and efficacy will be lost, and, as a conse¬ 
quence, the results will be both unreliable and unsatisfactory. To 
avoid alarming the patient it is best given in a sloppy mash, or in 
the water, into which it should be poured immediately before it is 
offered, or much of it will be lost by evaporation. The dose is a 
5ss morning and evening. It thus allays, in a marked degree, the 
nervous irritability present, and has a decided action in relieving 
muscular spasm ; but if a larger quantity is given, or the dose 
repeated more than twice daily, it is liable to produce excitement 
with all its evil consequences, to prevent which is of the first im¬ 
portance, and must be most carefully guarded against. So important, 
indeed, does it appear to me, that I should be prepared to make 
almost any sacrifice, and to subordinate every other consideration to 
the obtainment of this one object. I have purposely omitted to 
offer anv remarks on more than one method of usino; the acid, i. e. 
in the patient’s water or in mash, for this reason, that I am of 
opinion the benefit of its use, either in the form of an enema or 
draught, is more than doubtful; but inasmuch as these methods, 
however questionable to me, may commend themselves to others, I 
will repeat this only—do not persevere in your efforts if it excites 
or alarms the sufferer, as nothing but evil will result. There is one 
more precaution which must not be lost sight of, viz. if the slings 
are not used every care must be taken to keep the patient standing 
or if he should get down to raise him again immediately, and if he 
cannot stand suspend him. 
3rd. The necessity for supporting the system under the continuous 
nervous irritation and muscular spasm requires but little argument to 
demonstrate; it is rather to be considered as self-evident, and second 
n y 111 importance to those other indications to which reference 
