THOUGHTS ON PLEURO-PNEUMONIA IN CATTLE. 459 
observed in man, nor are they indicated by general tremors 
or twitchings of the voluntary muscles. The poison pro¬ 
duces convulsions in animals. 
Few cases are recorded of its fatal effects upon animals, 
except such as have been produced by experiment, several of 
which, on horses and other animals, at the Edinburgh 
Veterinary College, are recorded in Mr. Finlay Dun’s work 
on veterinary medicines :—“ A cat of average size got upvij 
of Flemming’s tincture of aconite. In two minutes severe 
retching came on, and in five minutes painful vomiting and 
involuntary muscular contractions of a most active kind, with 
perverted action of the voluntary muscles, causing the animal 
to leap up the wall, and turn summersaults backwards. The 
vomiting and muscular action continued to within two or 
three minutes of death, which took place twenty minutes 
after the administration of the poison.” Other experiments 
on horses and dogs are also given at some length by the same 
author. Its effects upon two greyhounds came under my 
own observation a few years ago, and will be found recorded 
by me in the Veterinarian for January, 1859* The poisonous 
properties of the Aconitum napellus depend chiefly on an alka¬ 
loid named aconitina (aconitine) (C 60 H 47 NO T4 ), which is the 
most virulent poison known. According to Dr. Headland, 
C( 1-300th of a grain will poison a mouse with characteristic 
symptoms; l-100th,a small bird; l-1000th of a grain causes 
tingling and numbness of the tip of the tongue; 1-100th 
dissolved in spirit, and rubbed into the skin, causes loss of 
feeling for some time. This alkaloid is difficult to obtain 
pure, and its price, 3 s. 6d. per grain , would prevent its use in 
veterinary practice. 
(To be continued .) 
THOUGHTS ON PLEURO-PNEUMONIA IN 
CATTLE. 
Suggested by a Discussion at the Lancashire Veterinary 
Medical Association. 
By T. Greaves, M.R.C.V.S., President. 
I have listened attentively to the reading of a very excel¬ 
lent paper we have been favored with upon pleuro-pneumonia 
in cattle, by Mr. W. Haycock, and also to two evenings’ 
most interesting and enlightened discussions which have fol¬ 
lowed. We have had a variety of practical opinions as to the 
