observed a beater at a great distance waving a cloth as a signal for news. Clifford and Lesmore were instantly at speed, closely followed by all except the huntsman, whose horse had been severely lamed, and on approaching the man they heard that a large tiger had been seen descending the hill and was then being watched by Elsmere, who, having on the preceding night been thrown upon his back on a prickly pear bush, was unable to sit on his saddle, and had gone out on foot with his rifle for a chance shot at antelopes.

On rounding the base of the hill they saw the crowd of beaters flying in all directions, one of the horsekeepers lying dead in the field, and two others severely wounded, while the enormous panther who had done the mischief was cantering up to the very spot where Elsmere stood with two sepoys, armed with musket and bayonet, but without ball cartridges.

Spurs were vigorously applied to the already bleeding sides of their horses, and at that moment the

panther made his spring. Elsmere stood firm, and steadily levelled his rifle. It flashed! and the animal, striking him apparently on the top of the head, knocked him down flat on his face, and leapt upon his back, where he stood with his fore feet on his shoulder blades, roaring with tremendous violence, and dashing his sides with his tail in great fury. A cry of horror burst simultaneously from the approaching party, who of course concluded that nothing would save their young friend; even if not killed by the first blow, a single pat now from the powerful beast would crush him to death, and every moment they expected to see the fatal stroke; but scarcely had he remained in his appalling position

so long as it has taken to describe it, when, seeing his attention attracted to his comrade, who was fixing his bayonet, which had accidentally fallen off, the younger sepoy, a fine young Rajpoot, charged the panther and drove his bayonet through his ribs, which knocked him off from young Elsmere and drew forth a roar of rage, louder than had yet been heard. At the same instant the animal, while struggling with the sepoy, who had fallen on the ground from the impetus of his own attack, fastened his fangs on his assailant's left hand, which he had caught in his mouth, and literally gnawed it in two.

The other sepoy had now thrust his bayonet likewise into the brute's body, and amidst the groans of the mangled sepoy, the roars of the panther, and the shouts and yells of the beaters, Clifford and Lesmore came up to the scene of action and drove their spears with right good will and perfect aim through the loins of the prostrate but still furiously struggling foe. All that had thus passed from the time of Elsmere's fall seemed but the work of a minute. On finding himself freed from the weight of the panther, he sprang on his feet to the great joy of his friends, and seizing a spear dropped by some discreet follower, he gave his hearty assistance in finishing the work that was going on.

Many more of the hunters had now assembled and joined in the action; but not until the animal had been pierced by countless wounds did he release the sepoy's hand, and then the sight of it was perfectly sickening. It seemed one gory mass of mangled flesh and bones and blood up to the very wrist, the joint of which was also found crushed into powder.

At last, when his strength ap

peared completely exhausted, with one mighty effort he rose upon his legs in spite of spears and muskets, and giving a convulsive shake, fell to the ground and groaned his last just as the huntsman appeared in sight, whose only remark was, "I wish he had died more game!"

The arm of the wounded sepoy was amputated by the huntsman that evening; he was promoted on the spot to a havildar, and pensioned soon after his recovery upon full pay, while a handsome silver bangle, whercon this event was engraved in Mahratta, Persian,

SIR,

Severe and protracted indisposition has prevented my second appearance in the Oriental Sporting Magazine. I again resume the pen with pleasure; but being absent, secking a change of scene and air, I did not receive the last three numbers until a

short time ago. I hope I shall now be more regular with my lucubrations on the subject of horses and their diseases. We will commence, if you please, with that "curse on good horseflesh," Burzauttee, a disease extremely prevalent on this side of India, and for the cure of which almost every man has a specific; but trial after trial has never yet proved successful in eradicating it from the system.

I cannot but regret O. K. has not favoured us with the result of his experiments with the Muddar root, so highly extolled; but perhaps that favourite remedy has also been doomed to the tomb of all the Capulets. On this side of the globe you hear almost every man descant on the su periority of some infallible recipe;

still Burzauttee prevails, and I think it is just as virulent as it was twenty years ago.

I should like much to find a number of well conducted experiments with the various treatments adopted published in this Magazine. Such would tend to throw much light on the subject, for I am afraid most of us have as yet been travelling in a dark and mysterious road.

The first attempt ought to be to ascertain the cause of the disease; that once satisfactorily proved, a remedy would soon present itself. Philo Vet (1 should like to know you), pardon me for the liberty, but sportsmen are not over and above particular when the object they have in view is to ameliorate the sufferings of the finest animal under the canopy of heaven. With this impression my pen is allowed to take its course. Ignorant, I confess I am, of the primary or exciting cause of this disease, yet I am inclined to think (and thinking so much has indeed led me into the belief of it) that Burzauttee is kept up or increased from a deranged

state of the general system; and that, first, the removal of such excitement ought to be our principal object before we expect we expect returning health. I ask, can it be cured if a derangement of the organs of digestion exists ? My answer would be in the negative; for Burzanttee, through sympathy, may be kept up or aggravated from an impaired functional state of those organs where the food is received and prepared for the support of life, for through the medium of the blood disease can be generated. In order to set that question at rest, whether disease could be communicated, the following experiments were tried:-" At the Veterinary College the blood of a glandered horse was transfused into a healthy ass, who in a few days became affected with the same disease, and communicated it to another, by inoculation. Transfusion of the blood of a mangy dog has also produced mange in another. Many similar proofs might also be brought forward to establish the fact that the FLUIDS, as well as the solids, may be primarily and specifically affected." The same writer very justly adds also, "that every disease has its particular seat, and almost every poison its preference. Grease affects the heels, glanders the mucous membranes of the nose, Farcy the superficial absorbments, mange and Burzauttee the skin."

There are such various opinions regarding the disease in question, that I am rather disposed to be sceptical as to its real character, and to view all these opinions with some degree of hesitation. I have been an attentive observer in watching its progress and termination; but the conclusions I have drawn may be erroneous, yet I shall bow with respectful deference to any person who will

I

kindly convince me, by sound. argument, that I am labouring in error. My wish is to elicit information from those conversant with its nature and causes ; trust, therefore, some of your valuable correspondents will favour us with their experience on a subject which certainly requires to be more fully elucidated.

If I may be allowed to draw an opinion from analogy, I think the theory of medicine in the human subject is the theory of medicine in the brute; it is the application of that theory-the practice alone that is different. The laws of the animal economy are the same in all.

The treatment of Burzauttee has been confined too much to local applications, for in all cutaneous (or in fact other) diseases there is a sympathetic connection existing between the skin, stomach, bowels, &c., &c., &c.

Now, ulcerated legs, or cutaneous diseases arising from venereal taint or other causes, are seldom benefited by local applications, which tend more or less to aggravate the sufferings of the patient; therefore my conviction is, they should not be wholly relied upon in the treatment for Burzauttee. Why is it, I would ask, that the late celebrated Abernethy was so successful in his practice, more especially in local diseases arising from constitutional irritation? Why, because his attention was at once directed to the state of the stomach and bowels, the restoration of which was effected by a proper administration of mercury. Now, a catalogue of diseases may be named over which this medicine has decidedly a specific power, and there is scarcely a complaint to which the human frame is subject but some of its pre

parations are used with the most beneficial results.

Farcy was considered incurable, but industrious research (in a long train of well conducted experiments) has found a remedy for that horrible disorder; and the glanders, I have heard, have been effectually cured at the Royal Veterinary College by Assist. Professor Sewell!

Then why should we despair? May not we be blessed with a cure for Burzauttee ?

I place the most sanguine ex

SIR,

pectations in the proper administration of mercury, which is carried into the constitution by means of vessels, termed absorbents. It either acts as a stimulus on particular organs, or specifically in restoring the action of parts impaired by long disease; and in the hands of an attentive practical man this medicine I conceive to be an invaluable remedy. I now bid you adicu for the present.

Yours very faithfully,

Your two last numbers reached me too late again to appear in the field of controversy with "Fair Play," which I very much regret, as I am not disposed to yield to his opinion regarding the racing qualifications of his horse Marmion. Why has he not continued his account of the Meerut Races again the last year? When "the little trump of the west" (mind, this is a borrowed expression) was actually distanced in the match of 5000 rupees P. P. three miles, 8st. 7lbs. each, by the grey Arab horse Lancer, who won in a common canter in 6m. 28s.! I wonder if O'Keefe, who I (Fair Play) fancy is much more versed in the affairs of the turf than "A Bit of Caustic," will say after the above extraordinary performance that "Marmion is a trump "? After the race was over, it was reported "the little trump" had

NO QUACK.

been amiss with jaundice. Such certainly may have been the case (he was of course sick at Kurnaul when defeated in 1831). Let his liver perform its functions ever so well, he can never more hold a first-rate rank as a turf horse; therefore, my good Fair Play, I bear you no ill will, and the only advantage I shall take of you will be quoting the latter paragraph of your letter in the February Number.

"We shall see, as he says (meaning me), when the match between Marmion and Lancer is run, whether my opinion or his is right regarding the nag." As it has turned out I think we may conclude that Marmion has turned

out not quite so well as Fair Play expected. Perhaps "another month's training was required." Yours truly,

Cawnpore.

A BIT OF CAUSTIC.

66

A griff fresh from England lately arrived here, and took up his abode in my hospitable mansion. He had been domesticated but a few days when a hunting party was formed, of which I induced him to make one. On our return from this expedition I observed my friend sedulously employed in concocting Europe letters," one of which, addressed to his brother, he inadvertently left lying open on the table. My eye, by accident, happened to fall on it, and I was surprised by seeing the words, "Screw," "Hog-hunting," "Red Nose," &c., &c. "That's something about me," said I. "I'm damned if I don't read it." So without more ado, and not heeding the qualms of conscience, which suggested the impropriety of such an unprincipled action, I commenced, actuated more, however, by a desire of culling something from it for the amusement of your readers than by any vain curiosity of my own. It was so singular a production that I have taken the liberty of sending you the following copy, though I stand

a chance of getting "Coffee and Pistols for two" for my pains. However, I cannot lose my life in a better cause; and if I am

spiflicated," you will be deprived, Mr. Editor, of a sincere well-wisher in your obedient servant,

Nuggur, January, 1833.

SCREW.

Ahmednuggur, Jan. 1st, 1833. MY DEAR TOM,

You will be surprised at my not having written to you before, but I delayed it till my arrival here, as I thought you would like to know how I am settled, &c. This is a very nice place, and I dare say I shall stay here a long time, as I have but slight hopes of promotion at present, being the 25th supernumerary cadet. I am staying with B- (you must remember him in England). He has been very kind to me; but such a CC rum fellow" as he is I never saw. He contributes to a periodical, published at Bombay, styled the "Oriental Sporting Magazine," and figures in it

under the

66 name of Screw," but, in my opinion, with little credit to himself or benefit to