Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1845-09-06
s. From TIE Prairie Fermsr. y
Mercury An Treatment OF Horfes-
nv m a. n HOLT.

MEssss. EDIross:-,The usefulness and
consequent value Of that noble animal the
horse, renders everything calculated 70 re-
leve HE diseases Of the utmost importance.
That mercury coald be used with safety
and advantage in his various ailments, has
heretofore been doubted Late expert
ments, however, have shown that it may be
administered with the best effects. w
4, In q recent number Of the LomIon Lam
Get Is an account, detailing the treatment
Of case Of horse distemper, cured by call
o,nel. "A two years old colt had been at
tackled, two months before, with what is
called the diste,nper. He had a severe
cough and great enlargement ofthe glands
of the neck. Blisters had been applied,
and other means, to remedy the cough,
without benefit. Then q gentle purge Of
aloes was given, after which one drachm
Of calomel and seven grains Of opium COM
bined, were administered morning and
night, the diet consisting Of mashes of
brand and oats, and little clover hay. On
the sixth morning aaer commencing the
medicine, there was soreness Of the
mouth, increased saliva, the appetite inn
paired, the bowels relaxed, and reddish
margin round the teeth--all evincing that
the mercury had taken full effect. It was
now discontinued, and in less than month
after the fret dose, the colt had entirely
lost the cough, and the enlarged glands had
resumed their natural form. sif.s r
In a conversation, few days Stree, with
an intelligent gentleman, he informed me
That during short residence on the Amer
lean Bottom, a great many horses died oi
fever. Probably what's generally called
distemper.) A neighbor of his had lost
several. One day his physicia being At
his house for the purpose Of prescribing
for some member Of his. family, he asked
him what he should do for his sick horse.
The doctor loosely advised him to give a
dose of calomel. The farmer, believing
the animal as good as dead already, thought
he might as well give him calolnel as ia
have him die without ii; and til doctor
threw him out dose at random, which he
administered. In few days the, horse
was salivated--indeed, completely satura-
ted with the minera!-so much 50 that his
hair came entirely of. His fever, how
ever. was Immediately subdued, and as he
continued to recover, new and beautiful
coat of hair. was reproduced.
It is now the opinion Of some Of the
most eminent English veterinary surgeons
that the effects Of mercury on the horse
are neither uncertain nor injurious: but
that this animal can be mercurialized in q
much shorter time then is commonly be-
lievrd. and that. to insure the good effects
and beneficial operation Of the mineral, \
is by no. means necessary that any consid.
cradle or dangerous salvation should b.
produced. an. ,..a 81 ,sass, q is
The diseases to which horses are subiec
in the West are. i'll the majority. those il
which mercurials are directly indicated, ane
in which we might reasonably expect thu
happiest results; and have no doubt thai
ealomel, if timely resor.ei to and judi.
ciously administered, would often save the
lives Of many valuable horses, which are
now sacrificed to vacillating and inefi-
cient mode Of treatment.
Burlington, Iowa, April, lS45.