10 
poison the horses; but I had ’them well under its influence, before I 
discontinued its use, which was occasioned by the fright to the officials 
and others, caused by two of the stable men dividing a sixty grain 
belladonna ball between them and swallowing it, thereby exciting 
great commotion, which was not lessened by the physicians in atten¬ 
dance, who stated that the men must die from the amount taken 
thirty grain extract; I predicted at the time they would recover, which 
they did. I think it would take a very large dose of belladonna to 
fatally poison a man, if intelligently treated, as I know it would re¬ 
quire an enormous dose to do so in the Hoise. 
While I am on this subject, I may as well allude to the different 
strengths of extracts made by different manufacturers. When a 
medical man prescribes atropine , he knows what he is giving and what 
results to expect. When he prescribes Extract of Belladonna, unless 
well posted, he does not know what he is giving, and as few medical 
men, even physicians, know the relative strength of different extracts, 
supposing them to be all alike. I append the following analysis by 
Joseph LeRoy Webber, Ph. G. of Extracts purchased from different 
sources, and in the original packages. I think it important the results 
should be known to prevent working in the dark and the avoidance of 
1 1 u * Percentage of Atropine. 
Ext. Bellatl. Alcoh. U. S. P..2.571. 
Lazell, Marsh & Gardiner,. 2 ' 5 ”' 
Parke, Davis & Co.,. 2 '-W ' 
Burrough Bros.,.. 2 ‘ 3 p ' 
Henry Thayer & Co.,. 1 ' 3 • 
Til den & Co. 
Chas. Ellis, Son & Co.,. 
McKesson & Robbins,. 1,0 00’ 
E. Merck, [Alcoholic Extract] . 1.4S0. 
Geo. Allen & Co., [English] . 
Herrings & Co. ... .. x 79 - 
Mt. Lebanon, N. Y., Impissated Juice, 6 years old,. .. 9 ° 4 - 
E. Merck, [Aqueous Extract made 1869,]. 2 75 > 
Note the difference, some eight times as strong as others; if we 
use one we do not get the effect we want, while with others, if we do 
not know the strength and prescribe usual doses, we get stionger 
action than is desired. 
With regard to the causation of Cerebro-spinal-meningitis, there 
is no doubt it is poisoned gases or emanations, depending on defective 
sewerage in cities, defective drainage of lands in the country, this is 
the opinion I have formed from repeated observation in different out¬ 
breaks, and when we have in association, close, ill-ventilated 01 closely 
shut up stables the result is disastrous. I believe with good drainage 
and good ventilation , for they must go together, this disease would 
seldom appear. The car stables where the last outbreak occurred, 
while they could be ventilated, were kept shut up too much, the 
