WEST or SCOTLAND VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 493 
This, of course, is a bad case, the animal, in all probability, having 
been very severely used and having gone down in a place, perhaps, 
where there was no water nor assistance of any kind. We have 
these cases very frequently in Calcutta, but generally with appliances 
for their remedy close at hand, are tolerably successful in their 
treatment. There is no difficulty in recognising the disease. When 
a horse goes down with it, he lies extended to his full length, 
thoroughly exhausted and more or less insensible ; the lower lip 
drops, there is an insensibility to light and touch, the visible mucous 
membranes are highly infected, respiration is accomplished with 
difficulty, he groans and sighs, the heat of the skin is excessive, the 
heart beats tumultuously, and the pulse, at first full and quick, 
rapidly alters as the attack takes on a favorable or unfavorable 
turn. The chances of recovery or non-recovery under treatment 
speedily become apparent, and entirely depend upon the rapid 
handling of the case. 
If there is any breeze, the animal’s head and spine should be 
turned, so as to meet and receive the full benefit of it, the head 
should be raised, all harness removed, and if possible the animal 
be got under some shade or protection from the sun. Stimulants 
must be given, and at once, only they must be given very carefully, 
the power of deglutition being slow and uncertain. I have given 
with the best effect brandy, ammonia, the ethers, and, in the 
absence of anything better, beer. I prefer brandy and aromatic 
spirits of ammonia. They should be mixed with cold water and 
given every few minutes, without reference to quantity, until amend¬ 
ment begins to be apparent. 
1 can call to recollection a case where, in the space of two hours, 
I administered two quart bottles of brandy and about eight oz. arom. 
spirits of ammonia with ultimate success. When the animals are 
not able to swallow I am in the habit of causing them to inhale 
ammonia. I have administered in cases where the tumultuous 
beating of the heart was most apparent, hydrocyanic acid in com¬ 
bination with the stimulants, but it is requisite to be guarded about 
the actual quantity given in a certain time. I think bleeding is 
uncalled for in all these cases. I have bled horses for it, and have 
had them recover, but the percentage of recovery under bleeding was 
nothing like so good as it is now, when we never think of doing so. 
The main adjunct to the stimulating plan of treatment is cold 
affusion to the head, spine, and trunk, and especially over the region 
of the heart. This, as in the case of the stimulants, must be con¬ 
tinued until improvement is seen. There is a danger in overdoing 
it—that is, continuing it after the body begins to get cold, as it 
will do. I have used hot water on several occasions with the 
happiest result. It is not, however, always to be got, and I am not 
satisfied that it has any advantages over cold water. 
When signs of recovery are apparent, the cold affusion must be 
desisted from, with the exception of applying it to the head. 
Friction, with dry straw to the body and extremities, is now neces¬ 
sary, and proper treatment, and the animal should not be allowed 
