282 SCOTTISH METROPOLITAN VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
opening completely studded over with this same gritty material. With 
the exception of slight symptoms of inflammation of the pleural surface 
of the near side, all the other organs appeared healthy. I may here 
mention that this animal had suffered great pain for six days. I saw 
him every day for seven days, at which time he seemed to be greatly 
relieved ; and I informed the owner that I thought him so much better 
that I would not require to see him so often. Judge of my surprise 
when, the following morning, I received a message to say that the horse 
had died very suddenly, after being seized with a fit of coughing. The 
appearances presented on opening the chest of the two foals were very 
similar; but the effusion and deposit of granular matter were entirely 
confined to the pericardium. 
Causes .—May be defined to be predisposing and exciting. The pre¬ 
disposing cause is hereditary tendency. The only exciting cause that I 
am aware of is cold, which acts with powerful effect when an animal 
is exposed to currents of cold air when in a heated or perspiring state. 
Treatment .—Notwithstanding the claims set up for the preparations 
of salicine, as a specific for rheumatism, especially in its acute form, I 
think I may safely assert that, as yet, there is no single remedy known 
which has the power of cutting short the course of its duration. It 
really does seem strange, that if the half that is said of its efficacy be 
true, that there should continue to be a single sufferer from it. Dr. 
William Squire, in a paper read before the Harveian Society, Nov. 20th, 
1879, and reported in the Lancet of Dec. 20th, gives details of eight 
cures of acute rheumatism treated by salicylates, and gives the astonish¬ 
ing result of relief in less than two days, and all convalescent in ten. My 
own case showed a result very different. I was treated by the same system 
under very favorable circumstances. My medical attendant, or his 
assistant, saw me at least twice a day. So soon as the doctor pronounced 
my disease to be acute rheumatism, he prescribed salicylate of soda and 
aconite, to be taken every fifteen minutes. I continued to take this 
until my lips prickled and became so swollen that I could scarcely open 
my mouth, when the aconite was stopped, and salicylate of soda con¬ 
tinued to be taken every two, and then every four, hours. This was 
continued till the singing in my ears became intolerable, and my head 
got into such a state that I was not sure if I had a head on my shoulders. 
During all this time there was no abatement of a single symptom, no 
relief from pain, no slowing of the pulse or lowering of the tempera¬ 
ture. The pulse ranged from 92 to 98, and the temperature from 102 
to 104 degs., until the seventh day, when, there being no mitigation of 
of the affection, the doctor consented to the discontinuance of the acid. 
But the singing in my ears and peculiar sensations in my head continued 
for other ten days after everything that medical attention and skill 
could devise. I am here to-day, after fourteen weeks, only very partially 
recovered. Gentlemen, I feel that I have trespassed on your time in 
making these details regarding myself; but I think they go to prove 
that the treatment of rheumatism by the salicylates is not the infallible 
remedy that its advocates would lead us to believe. I have tried it 
somewhat extensively in the treatment of cases of rheumatism, both in 
the acute and chronic form, without noticing any well-marked benefit. 
It most undoubtedly possesses the power of lowering the temperature, 
and thereby reducing fever; but I do not think that its repute as an 
alleviator of pain has been clearly established. The subject is worthy 
of further trial and study. Better results may be obtained when more 
is known of the drug, as to its properties, proper dose, and best mode 
of administration. 
