40 
JOHN E. BROWN. 
age horse at 1200 pounds, this dose would only be equal to about 
one-eightieth grain per pound of body weight. If life continnes 
for 24 hours after a dose of one-twelfth grain per pound of body 
weight, surely we will not produce such rapidly fatal termina¬ 
tions as have been reported, by the administration of a dose 
which equals but one-eightieth of a grain per pound of body 
weight. In all the subjects on which I have used the drug, the 
effect has been universally the same, and all have recovered ex¬ 
cept three. One of the exceptions, a draft stallion, had been 
sick twelve hours or more, and was past the point where medical 
aid could possibly avail. I found him standing in a semi-con¬ 
scious state, pulse imperceptible, eyes dull and inexpressive and 
lids half closed ; peristalsis entirely absent, and cold sweat drip¬ 
ping from the body. The horse had suffered intensely all day^ 
and regurgitation had been an almost constant symptom, until 
about an hour before I saw him. For the purpose of noting the 
action of the drjig, if any would be produced in such a subject, 
I made an intravenous injection of fifteen grains of the salt, also 
a hypodermic injection of strychnia and nitro-glycerine, in an at¬ 
tempt to revive the action of the heart. Almost immediately 
peristalsis was set up and the horse began to strain violently 
in an effort to defecate. Neither faeces nor flatus passed, al¬ 
though the peristalsis and straining continued until death— 
about an hour later. The second exception was similar to the 
first; the only difference worthy of note was that I used the 
barium chloride without the nitro-glycerine. In a few seconds 
this case, which was standing when the injection was made, stag¬ 
gered and fell heavily to the ground, but after a few moments 
revived and stood up for an hour or so, showing no particular 
effect from the medicine. 'The third exception was a driving 
mare that had become a “chronic colicer,” often having attacks 
of short duration while standing in the stable. On this occasion 
the mare had been out on a drive and came in sick. I was called 
soon after and found her in great pain and badly bloated. The 
tympanites was relieved by puncturing the colon, and after pre¬ 
scribing the usual treatment, I left. Calling again in about two 
