148 
CLAIM AGAINST A VETERINARY SURGEON. 
hood that the name monkshood is derived. In other 
varieties the flowers are variegated, and in some of a yellow 
colour. This plant is cultivated for its floral beauty and as 
a medicinal agent. That its green glossy foliage, with its 
racemes of dark blue flowers, are very ornamental to our 
flower gardens in the earlier part of summer, will be at once 
admitted; but from the tendency this plant has to extend 
its growth, and the careless manner in which it is allowed to 
propagate itself amongst those plants whose roots or leaves 
(such as the horse-radish or parsley) are so frequently used 
by us as adjuncts to our table, and from the fatal con¬ 
sequences which have taken place from its having been 
partaken of in mistake for those plants, should, I think, 
point out much greater care in its cultivation, or that so 
deleterious a plant should alone be cultivated in our medi¬ 
cinal gardens. All parts of the plant contain active pro¬ 
perties, but the parts chiefly employed in medicine are the 
root (tubers) and leaves. These should be collected after 
the flowers begin to fade and before the seeds begin to ripen. 
The tubers may then be cut into thin slices, and carefully 
dried at a low temperature. From these, the two prepara¬ 
tions most commonly used, viz., the tincture and extract 
of aconite, are obtained. The tincture is made by macerating 
the root in rectified spirit, and the formula of Dr. Fleming is 
generally considered the most effective, given in doses of from 
ten to twenty minims. The extract of aconite is made by in¬ 
spissating the juice of the leaves, or more readily by 
evaporating the tincture to the consistence of an extract. 
For external application, an ointment may also be prepared, 
as recommended by Dr. Turnbull, by mixing one part of the 
extract with two parts of lard. In my next communication I 
shall proceed to describe its value as a medicinal agent, and 
its poisonous properties. 
[To he continued.) 
CLAIM AGAINST A VETERINARY SURGEON. 
Letter from Mr. J. Aked, M.R.C.V.S., Blackburn. 
Sir, —Having been subpoenaed to give evidence in the 
above case, and considering the history of it, as published in 
the Veterinarian for January last, not to be in accordance 
with some of the facts, I wish to set the public right so far 
