SALICYLIC ACID. 
127 
It may seem strange to the uninitiated, but I am confident the same 
principle holds good with regard to animals, particularly the horse. 
It must be within the experience of every practitioner, that animals 
which are irregular feeders, and looking anything but thrifty, as a rule, 
greatly improve by a sojourn in the country (if a city horse) for the 
summer, even when worked regularly. How often are we told of ani¬ 
mals, that have an occasional cough when in the city, lose it entirely in 
the country. But it is in reference to patients under treatment I would 
speak more particularly. We frequently find animals that have passed 
the severity of their sickness—perhaps, the only symptoms remaining— 
want of appetite, some debility, etc., cases that tonics and the best pre¬ 
pared food seem not to stimulate nor provoke an appetite. What is the 
reason ? Is it that the patient is tired of the sameness, or is it loneli¬ 
ness, as when the patient is left to himself all day, as sometimes happens 
in most stables, his companions that he is used to, and fond of, being 
in good health, have to earn their living rain or shine. 
One or the other, or both combined, have much to do with it, I 
am convinced ; it has proven so in a number of instances—an example 
of one will suffice: At the present time I have a patient in my stable 
who has had influenza; he was treated in his own stable at first and 
responded well, excepting he would not eat; the best of food was of¬ 
fered him, and the best care taken of him, when his attendant was at 
the stable, i. e ., early in the morning and at night; the rest of the time 
the animal was alone in the stable. Was this the cause of the difficulty ? 
I think so. 
As soon as I had him removed to a stable, with, perhaps, a little 
purer air than his own, and where he had company to interest him, the 
appetite immediately returned without taking stimulants or tonics, and a 
single meal has not been lost. 
SALICYLIC ACID. 
By the Same. 
This agent 1 have tried in two cases—one of suppurative synovitis, 
the other of influenza (a relapsed case), of high temperature. 
Its action is stated to be antiseptic, anti-pyretic, and tonic. My 
experience, as far as it goes, and that is but slight, corroborate these 
actions. 
