MEDICINES. 331 



ably is not mange, but only inflammation of the sldn, from too great 

 fullness of blood. A little blood should be taken away — a purgative 

 administered, and the alteratives given. The mange ointment cannot do 

 harm, and may possibly prevent this heat of the skin from degenerating into 

 mange, or stop the progress of mange, if it has commenced. If a scurfi. 

 ness of skin should appear on any of the points that are pressed upon by 

 the collar or harness, the veterinary surgeon will do right to guard against 

 danger, by alterative medicine and the use of the ointment. 



WARTS, 



These are tumours of variable size, arising first from the cuticle, and 

 afterwards connected with the true skin by means of the vessels which 

 supply the growth of the tumours. They are found sometimes on the eye- 

 lids, on various parts of the skin, and on the prepuce. They must be 

 removed by an operation. If the root be very small, it may be snipped 

 asunder with a pair of scissors, close to the skin, and the root touched with 

 the lunar caustic. If the pedicle or stem be somewhat larger, a ligature 

 of waxed silk may be passed firmly round it, and tightened every day. 

 The source of nutriment being thus cut oil] the tumour will, in a few days, 

 die and drop off". If they are large, or in considerable clusters, it will be 

 necessary to cast the horse, to cut them otF close to the skin, and sear the 

 root with a red-hot iron. Unless these precautions are used, the warts will 

 speedily sprout again. 



CHAPTER XXIII 



A LIST OF THE MEDICINES USED IN THE TREATMENT OF THE 

 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



He will rarely consult his own interest, who, not having had the 

 advantage of a veterinary education, undertakes the treatment of any of 

 the serious diseases of his horses. Many of the maladies of the horse so 

 nearly resemble each other — and are so continually varying their character, 

 and require, in their different stages, so different a treatment; and in the 

 plainest case, not only the characteristic symptoms of disease are obscure, 

 but even the indications of returning health, or increasing danger, often 

 scarcely ascertainable — so that the sick horse, as well as the human being, 

 needs the care of one whom study and experience have qualified for the 

 task. A list, however, of the drugs generally used, with a slight account 

 of their history, adulterations, and medicinal effects, will be interesting to 

 the horse-proprietor as well as to the veterinary surgeon ; and may occa- 

 sionally be useful when professional aid cannot be obtained. 



Aloes. — There are two kinds used in horse practice, the Barbadoes and 

 the Cape. The Socotorine, preferred by the human surgeon, are very 

 uncertain in their effect on the horse. Of the Barbadoes and the Cape, the 

 first are much to be preferred. The Barbadoes aloes are obtained princi- 

 pally from the island of Barbadoes, and are the juice of the large leaves 

 of the aloe boiled to a considerable thickness, and then poured into gourds, 

 in which they gradually harden. The true Cape is the extract of a 

 ppecies of aloes chiefly cultivated at the Cape of Good Hope. The 

 Socotorine aloes are of a brown colour, inclining to red, at.d brittle. 



