28 
COMMUNICATION, ETC. 
water for an hour. I think myself that this steeping of grain 
ought to be stopped, for even if it be properly done, and 
only for the time ordered, it is apt to produce colic, &c. 
But I know that it is often left soaking for many hours instead 
of the half hour or hour directed; and on two occasions I 
discovered that the grain for a whole regiment had been put 
in water overnight for the morning’s feed. This accounts 
for the numerous cases of colic, gastritis, enteritis, and 
ruptured stomach, &e., which occur out here. Still I cannot 
see how or why it should produce ulceration of the lining- 
membrane of the stomach without bringing on an acute 
attack of gastritis, or one of a sub-acute or chronic kind with 
symptoms of an unmistakable character. I have heard it 
stated that the use of steeped grain was the cause of this 
gastric ulceration. If it be so, why do we not come across a 
larger number of deaths in which the stomach is found in 
the state of those I have described ? I have been many 
years in India, and have never neglected to open every horse 
that died under my care, but until now I have seen no 
ulceration, and only two or three times abscess within the 
stomach. We are now feeding upon parched grain and 
barley, broken and mixed with bran; and for some time 
past we have had no cases admitted, not even slight ones. 
If you or any of your professional readers have seen and 
treated gastro-enteritic attacks of the peculiar kind alluded 
to above, you may be able to throw some light upon the 
cause. Please do it if you can. 
In addition to the six troopers, an Arab belonging to one 
of the officers of the same battery has died. The horse was 
taken ill at half-past ten a.m., and died at three p.m. same 
day— i.e. in four and a half hours! Post-mortem examina¬ 
tion showed ulceration of the cuticular and villous lining 
membrane of stomach, with rupture of its coats to the extent 
of about six or seven inches. 
COMMUNICATION, &c., FROM THE GHOST OF AN 
INDIAN YET. 
India ; Oct. 21st, 1863. 
Dear Sirs, —I inclose you an extract from an Indian 
paper, whereby you will see the fix our Government is 
getting into through its treatment of their veterinary sur- 
