LANCASHIRE VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 785 
closing-up, as it were, of every organ ; all the natural functions 
ceased at once, and the whole system, having become alarmed, so to 
speak, at the attack thus made upon it, concentrated all its powers 
in order to resist the shock, and to obviate the danger which fol¬ 
lowed. Hence it often happens that the surgeon was called in at 
this stage, and the patients were treated for constipation of the 
bowels instead of the disease itself. 
When the disease was once subdued, the natural functions returned. 
Quietude he had often insisted very strongly upon, and he was very 
glad to find that they were beginning to believe in the necessity of 
that measure. With regard to treatment, they would find even in 
4 White’s Farriery ’ a statement to the effect that animals had been 
treated with sheep-skins, small doses of aloes, and quietude, and that 
no bleeding was resorted to. With reference to Mr. Lawson’s 
remedy, he (Mr. Haycock) was doubtful as to the action of hydro¬ 
cyanic acid. He did not think that it had any action, except in 
very large doses. 
Mr. MacTaggart would, to some extent, confirm that opinion. 
Half a drachm had no effect. Perhaps Mr. Lawson would express 
his opinion with respect to that point. 
Mr Laivson thought that the amount of success which had 
attended his treatment with half-drachm doses of hydrocyanic acid 
was a sufficient answer to Mr. Haycock’s query. The action was 
proved by the good effect produced. 
Mr. Broad said he had been in the habit of giving two-drachm 
doses, and, although they were administered as quietly as possible, 
they produced considerable excitement. The effect of the first dose 
was scarcely observed. Formerly he did not insist upon quietude, 
which he had subsequently found to produce so good a result. 
Mr. P. Taylor, of Manchester, inquired in what way the dose 
was administered. 
Mr. Broad replied that he used a small bottle ; and that gene¬ 
rally the symptoms passed off in a month. 
Mr. P. Taylor —who complained that Mr. Lawson had not 
entered more into the pathology of the subject—said he had, in the 
course of nineteen years, treated ten cases, and that the majority of 
them were of the traumatic class. The first patient died soon after 
purgation took place ; the second was treated with hydrocyanic 
acid, but, owing to the extensive nature of the wound and con¬ 
sequent excessive weakness, the patient died. He subjected the 
next patient to a treatment which was described in the Field as 
having been applied with success. It was bleeding the patient to 
the extent of eight or ten quarts, placing the animal in a quiet 
place, and wrapping the whole trunk in hot blankets. He tried 
it for four days, but never saw the slightest alleviation of the 
symptoms. 
Another patient received a dose of physic, and got well. A two- 
year-old colt—an idiopathic case—was put into a dark place, and 
succumbed to the disease. No medicine was given. He was of 
opinion that there was no medicine that would overcome extreme 
