LANCASHIRE VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 789 
of the subacute kind. Mr. Lawson would, perhaps, state his 
opinion as to administering the acid by the rectum. 
Mr. Lawson , in replying, said Mr. Taylor had found fault with 
him because he had not entered more into the pathology of the 
subject. lie (Mr. Lawson) did not give more information on that 
point simply because he did not know any more, and it was doubt¬ 
ful whether any one knew much more than he did. He had not 
used aloes since he adopted this system, nor had he ever given 
hydrocyanic acid per rectum, but always by the mouth. He 
should not be exaggerating if he said that before resorting to this 
method, of twenty patients, no fewer than nineteen died. With 
regard to the use of the acid, lie did not wish to hold out that drug 
as a specific for tetanus. He simply wished to give the result of 
his own experience of its use. He had found it to answer the re¬ 
quired purpose much better than any other drug he knew of. 
Others would probably adopt this treatment; but, at the same time, 
he should be very glad to hear of some gentleman bringing forward 
another mode of cure, that might be of as much, or even of more 
service to the profession. It should also be remembered that he 
did not wish to convey the idea that the application of hydrocyanic 
acid in cases of tetanus was his own discovery. He was indebted 
to the late Mr. Poett, Veterinary Surgeon, 7th Dragoons, for the in¬ 
formation. He (Mr. Lawson) did not think there was anything 
which would cure all cases of tetanus. He had found that, of 
eleven patients subjected to this treatment, nine were cured, whilst 
the remaining two were almost impracticable cases. To a remedy 
that would effect as much as that they were bound to accord great 
credit, and to continue its use. He did not use aloes for tetanus 
because it did nothing but harm. Most of the cases he alluded to 
in his essay were of the subacute class, and two or three of the 
acute. He thought a great deal depended upon keeping the animal 
quiet, but he was quite certain that hydrocyanic acid, given in small 
doses, possessed great action in relieving the spasms, and also in 
allaying the nervous irritability and excitement. He felt confident 
of that, When he tried three doses in a day, the patient became 
excited, and was very much the worse for the additional quantity. 
He discontinued it, and substituted a dose night and morning, and 
all went on well afterwards. 
Mr. P. Taylor asked if Mr. Lawson slung his patients. 
Mr. Lawson replied that he did not. He let them lie down, but 
if they became excited when down he got them up directly. If, 
however, he found that a horse could not stand he would not hesi¬ 
tate to put him in slings, but, if possible, he would refrain from it, 
in order to avoid irritation. 
Mr. Broad remarked that he lent his slings to a neighbouring 
practitioner who had a horse down. The case turned out successful, 
and he believed no medicine was used. He (Mr. Broad) had tried 
strychnine in one instance. It was administered in rather large 
doses, which made the horse very excitable. It was a somewhat 
