ACTION OF VERATRUM ALBUM AS A PARASITICIDE. 113 
the former there is no yellowness of the mucous membranes, 
nor that peculiar yellow discharge so characteristic in the 
latter. 
I have seen partial paralysis of the hind extremities super¬ 
vene in seven cases, and in four or five others muscular 
rheumatism. 
I treated the former with small doses of strychnine, and 
the latter with iodide of potassium, diuretics, and tonics. 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE ACTION OE VERA¬ 
TRUM ALBUM AS A PARASITICIDE. 
By John Howard, Veterinary Student, Edinburgh. 
In the month of March, 1871, I treated two white fox 
terriers, a dog and a bitch respectively, for mange. The 
animals were in fair condition and free from any abrasion of 
the skin by which the active principles of the ointment 
applied could find its way into the system by direct contact 
with the blood-vessels. The male was suffering with the 
disease to a greater extent than the other, and, therefore, 
received the largest share of the rubbing in of ointment, 
veratrum album. After a lapse of ten minutes, I was sur¬ 
prised to find that the respiration of the bitch became much 
accelerated, and on her haunches with the fore legs apart, 
the head inclining forwards, and tongue hanging out of the 
mouth, with dribbling of saliva from the mouth ; she seemed 
much nauseated and depressed. These symptoms continued 
for a few minutes accompanied with a low anxious whine; 
then violent vomiting set in. Her distress became so great 
that I feared a fatal termination, and had the ointment washed 
from her skin as quickly as possible; very soon afterwards 
the constitutional disturbance ceased, but the animal remained 
much depressed during the rest of the day, and refused her 
food in the evening. 
The dog, although he had received a more extensive in¬ 
unction, did not show any symptoms of functional derange¬ 
ment whatever. I therefore allowed the application to remain 
on, keeping a close watch upon him, but he exhibited no 
inconvenience from its presence, and ate his food heartily. 
Feeling rather dissatisfied with the variable results in the 
foregoing cases, I last spring procured two common bred 
dogs of no value, and again applied the veratrum as in the 
preceding instances. 
