The reader has now before him some of the most important features of acute rheumatism, and we shall now allude to the treatment. The remedies used by different practitioners are:- Colchicum, calomel, opium, Dovors powder, tartar emetic, cimicfuga racemosa, hellebore, aconite, iodine, nitrate of potassa, acetate of ammonia; each article have their advocates, and at certain stages are indicated. We have great faith in colchicum, yet have often succeeded in producing a favorable termination in the use of guiacum, nitrate of potassa, and liquor acetate of ammonia. The theory of the treatment of acute rheumatism, contemplates antiphlogistics, to be continued so long as inflammatory symptoms shall be severe; yet, we must exercise ordinary discretion in the use of atiphlogistic remedies, for should we continue them until all inflammatory symptoms have subsided, we may purge, nauseate, and bleed our patients into the vicinity of death's door, without accomplishing our object. The old-fashioned method of combating an inflammatory diathesis, in the uses of lancet and drastic cathartics, is fast dying out, at least a very marked change for the better is observed, and practitioners, now, depend more on sedatives, diuretics, febrifuges, and nauseants, than on the above. One of the principal objects in the treatment of acute rheumatism is, to excite diaphoresis; and in this view we recommend a solution of acetate of ammonia, known as Liquor Ammonia Acetatis; this is an excellent febrifuge, and diaphoretic, and may be given in broken doses to the amount of eight ounces per day. One or two drachms of nitrate of potassa (common salt petre,) may also be given in the form of bolus, yet in order to insure diaphoresis, and prevent these agents passing off by the kidneys, the heat of the body must be augmented by clothing. Practitioners of human surgery are often in the habit of using nitre, in much larger doses than we have dared to administer, yet, in some cases, with marked benefit to the patient.* NITRATE OF POTASSA.-In a case of synovial rheumatism this remedy was given by a Boston physician, in a single dose of one ounce, dissolved in a pint and a half of barley water. This was followed by one grain of opium. In fifteen hours the pulse was found reduced, and the pain absolutely gone; and in a few days the tongue was clean, and the swelling entirely abated. The remedy caused neither emesis nor catharsis, but passed off by the kidneys. In another case of acute synovial attack, following chronic rheumatism, the same dose was prescribed without any good effect, causing active catharsis. Again, half an ounce of nitrate of potassa, largely diluted, was given every two to four hours, until the patient took three ounces in eighteen hours, with two doses of opium or one grain each, with entire relief to the pain and fever. When the potash was reduced to drachm doses, nausea and vomiting followed, which were relieved by vesication with aqua-ammonia, the blister being sprinkled with half a grain of morphine. The patient recovered. Another physician had used the remedy to the extent of half an ounce in twentyfour hours, for three successive days. He found that if the salt be given well diluted, These agents will probably moderate the heart's action and relieve the pain; should they fail to do so, we must resort to nauseants and sedatives. The most popular nauseant for horses, is white hellebore, yet it is an agent that can only with safety be used under the direction of a qualified practitioner. Mr. Morton recommends it to be given in "doses of from twenty to thirty grains, every four or six hours, until its action becomes manifest. As soon as this takes place, the repetition of the dose must be carefully avoided, lest efforts to vomit are produced." Should we fail in the use of one or more of the above remedies, to lessen the heart's action, and the pulse be fifty or more per minute, the breathing somewhat hurried, and the pain excruciating, then a full dose of medicine must be given, (about seven drachms of aloes). It may be proper to administer a physic ball in the early stage of the disease, and perhaps employ the lancet; these are matters which we shall leave discretionary with the medicinal attendant. If a mild diaphoresis can be brought about, it will do more good than we can expect from the use of either lancet or cathartic. A constipated state of the bowels, however, must be overcome either by physic, mashes, clysters, or saline aperients. The bicarbonate of soda is a very valuable adjunct in the treatment of acute rheumatism, because, in seven cases out of ten, the whole system is in an acid condition, and if we can (in the language of the chemist,) saturate it with alkili, or in other words, establish an alkiline condition, our patient is then on the high road to health. Now, in case a cathartic be indicated, we must consider the condition of the patient; he may be suffering excruciating torment, from inflammation of the pleura, pericardium, or synovial membranes, and if so, our object must be to mitigate pain in the use of opium or some other narcotic; should the patient therefore exhibit lameness in one or more of the extremities, and the joints of the hind or fore limbs become swollen and painful, a local application may be of some service, and in this view we recommend the following: Castor oil, Spirit of ammonia, 3 ounces. 1 ounce. 2 ounces. 2 ounces. Mix, apply a portion to the affected limb or joint, twice, daily. it will purge, and vice versa. The physicians of the Massachusetts General Hospital had used the remedy, one ounce in twenty-four hours, without good effects, and its use was abandoned. It appears to be conceded, that it is safe to give the remedy in this quantity, although symptoms of gastritis sometimes followed its use; but it was always largely diluted, and generally in demulcent liquids. We are in the habit of giving it in rheumatism and other inflammatory affections, in doses of twenty to thirty grains, every two or three hours during the period of excitement or exacerbation, combined with tartar emetic; but have been deterred from the exhibition of the larger doses above mentioned, from a fear of its toxical effect. We have found this combination particularly useful in pneumonia.—Memphis Med. Recorder. In an inflammatory state of the joints, it is customary to apply cooling applications, yet the practice is open to the following objection, viz. it may augment the acute symptoms in and around the joints, while it lessens them on the surface; nevertheless, if an action of the cutaneous vessels can be maintained, refrigerating lotions. cannot do harm. So soon as the inflammatory symptoms have subsided, and all danger of internal disease seems to have disappeared, we must commence a different plan of treatment; we must give tonics, not only to promote the convalescence of the patient, but also in order to prevent the disease assuming a chronic type, which is very apt to be the case when the prostrating plan of treatment has been too long continued, or practised with undue severity. From among the following agents the practitioner can select a suitable tonic:- Sulphate of iron, cascarilla bark, gentian, quill bark, quinine, golden seal, chamomile flowers, to either of which a small portion of ginger may be added, provided a stimulant be indicated." Chronic rheumatism, to which we shall hereafter allude, requires a different plan of treatment. ON THE HEREDITARY DISEASES OF HORSES. PRIZE ESSAY. (From the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, Vol. XIV.) FIRST PART. OUR everyday experience of the production and development of plants and animals at once suggests the existence of the great natural law embodied in the familiar saying, "like produces like." In accordance with this law the peculiar properties, characters, and qualities of the parent-whether good or bad, healthy or diseased, external or internal are transmitted to the offspring, or, in a word, are hereditary. To illustrate this natural law of hereditary transmission, with especial reference to the diseases of horses and cattle, is the object of this report, and in treating of the subject, we shall notice 1. General hereditary characters, both healthy and diseased. II. The hereditary diseases of horses. III. The hereditary diseases of cattle. 1. Many interesting and valuable facts have been recorded which prove, beyond all doubt, the hereditary tendency of many of the physical, mental, and moral qualities of man. Parents transmit to * their children their own - or at all events, similar-external forms, similar intellectual capacities, temperaments, dispositions, virtues, and vices, as well as similar tendencies to particular diseases. Certain families are remarkable, during many centuries, for tall and handsome figures, and for a striking similarity of features; whilst others perpetuate a less perfect form, the peculiar deformities of the parents reappearing in the children of each successive generation. For example, the thick upper lip of the members of the imperial house of Austria has been a characteristic of the family for centuries; and every one is familiar with the curious case of the Yorkshire family with their six fingers and toes, which remarkable conformation has continued for several generations; and other analogous cases are recorded. But the hereditary transmission of external form is exemplified, on a more extended scale, by the striking resemblance often observed amongst the different individuals of a community or race, even where these are exposed to different external agencies. The cases of the Jews and the Gipsies will suggest themselves to every one as most apposite examples. Although opposed for centuries to the powerfully modifying influences of external circumstances of climate, country, association with nations of very different customs and habits, these remarkable races still retain their identity, and remain distinct and peculiar people. But it is not alone their face or figure that remains unaltered, their manners, habits, and customs are also uniform and permanent: a most striking proof of the hereditary transmission of almost every bodily and mental character and quality. As regards intellectual ability, it is observed that certain races are remarkable for intelligence and aptitude in the acquirement of knowledge, and others for stupidity and narrowness of capacity; that the children of such races, although reared and educated with equal care, always show much difference in intellectual attainments; and that it is only after educating several generations of the lessgifted race that they attain the natural capacity of the more gifted. Both ancient and modern history afford many striking instances of analogous temperaments and dispositions being transmitted from father to son through many generations; of some families remarkable during centuries for virtue, honor, and liberality, and of others notorious during an equally long period for every sort of wickedness, vice, and oppression. But diseases, as well as physical and mental qualities, descend from parent to children. Many of the most wide-spread and fatal maladies affecting the human subject are hereditary. Under this category we may include pulmonary consumption, which destroys "Researches into the Physical History of Mankind," by James C. Prichard, 3d edition, pp. 244-5. See also, at pp. 347-9, the description of a man whose skin was greatly thickened and covered with warty excrescences, and in whose descendants these pecularities were noticeable in the third generation. so many of the inhabitants of these islands, frequently decimating, and sometimes completely sweeping away, entire families; scrofula, gout, gravel, and rheumatism, which, like consumption, occurs chiefly in predisposed subjects, and in the progeny of those who have themselves suffered from them; most nervous diseases, especially palsy, epilepsy, and insanity, which rarely attack any individual without also affecting many of the same family; and many imperfections of the external senses, as deafness and blindness. These are the most common hereditary discases incident to man; most of them have their analogues in the lower animals, in which they are also hereditary. Amongst horses and cattle we find, as in the human subject, ample illustration of the hereditary tendency of external form, disposition, habit, and disease. The parent transfers to its offspring size, shape, and general conformation similar to its own; and the aphorism "like produces like " is as applicable to faulty and disproportioned as to beautiful and symmetrical form, to diseased and debilitated as to healthy and vigorous constitution, to gentle and tractable as to fiery and indomitable disposition. The size, weight, general appearance, expression of countenance, fleetness, and temper of the horse are all hereditary. Many illustrations might be given of particular families being remarkable during several generations for good or bad points, as for well or ill-formed head; for high and well-developed, or for low and weak withers; for fine, strong, and well-turned, or for coarse, weak, and ill-formed limbs. Peculiarities of color often extend through many generations, and are so constant in their transmission as sometimes to form one of the distinctive characteristics of a race. Indeed, most breeds of horses have a prevailing color, to which there are few exceptions. The heavy horses of Lincolnshire, for example, are generally of black; the Cleveland, bay; and the wild horses of the plains of Eastern Siberia, dun. Particular markings, also-as white spots on various parts of the body, stars and blazes on the face, one or more white feet or legs often continue for many generations peculiar to certain families. The general constitution of an animal is no less hereditary than the external qualities to which we have just alluded. Some stocks of horses, for example, can sustain with impunity an amount of labor which, in others of the same breed, would cause serious bad effects; and the peculiar action both of medicines, and of morbific causes, is generally observed to be similar in members of the same family. But besides the general constitution of the parents, their special condition at the time of copulation also appears to be to a certain extent transmitted to the offspring; and hence the necessity of selecting for breeding purposes only animals of a strong and healthy constitution, and of using them only when they are in full possession of their physical energies. For a high state of the physi |