908 
W. B. SWITZER. 
I do not approve of the indiscriminate use of opiates and 
physics in the treatment of acute indigestion. We are often 
called to attend a case where some one has already given tr. 
opia 2 oz., or a large dose of physic, possibly both. I find that 
many are in the habit of at once giving one or both of the 
above mentioned remedies. 
It has been my experience that this treatment fails to pro¬ 
duce the results desired. For instance, we cannot expect to get 
the good results from a dose of physic, given to an animal when 
the stomach and bowels are distended and the fermenting pro¬ 
cess is still going on, that we would get if we first correct this 
condition. Not only this, but in many cases, the physic is not 
called for at all. 
As regards the use of opiates, the administration of same at 
the early stage of a disease will almost invariably dull the sen¬ 
sibility and thus relieve the pain for a certain length of time ; 
but when they have ceased to exert this stupefying influence, 
the horse is as bad as ever, and they have only served a tempor¬ 
ary purpose, while the doctor has been thrown into the dark, if 
not entirely deceived, as to the true condition of his patient 
through the dulling of the sensibilities of the horse, thereby 
placing him in a condition where he is unable to reveal his 
true symptoms. 
After we are well satisfied of the true condition, if the pain 
is so great that we feel justified in giving an anodyne, I prefer 
either cannabis indica, or chloral hydrate, as they have no con¬ 
stipating effect, as so many opiates have. 
And now, gentlemen, appreciating that this paper is some¬ 
what crude and incomplete, yet I trust that a healthy discussion 
of the subject may be aroused from which we shall all derive 
much benefit. 
u I have been a regular subscriber to the Review for the 
last couple of years, and find that frequently one article is worth 
double the price of a year’s subscription.”— E. A. Richardson , 
F. A., Marcus , la . [This extract is printed as a sample of 
many from subscribers in all sections.] 
