390 THE HORSE.' 



refuses his food, a cordial may be beneficial; it may rouse the stomacn 

 and the svstem, and may prevent cold and fever ; but it is poison to the 

 animal when administered after the cold is actually caught and fever begins 

 to appear. More to be reprobated is the practice of giving frequent cor- 

 dials, that, by their stimulus on the stomach, (the skin sympathising so 

 much with the stomach,) a fine coat may be produced. The artificial 

 excitement of the cordial soon becomes as necessary to enable the horse to 

 do even common work, as is the excitement of the dram to sustain the ani- 

 mal spirits of the drunkard. 



To recall the appetite of the horse slowly recovering from illness, a cor- 

 dial may sometimes be allowed ; or to old horses that have been worked 

 hard and used to these excitements when young ; or to draught horses, 

 that have exhibited slight symptoms of staggers, when their labour has 

 been unusually protracted, and their stomachs left too long empty ; or 

 mixed with diuretic medicine, to fine the legs of the overworked and debili- 

 tated animal ; otherwise they should never find a place in the stable, or be 

 used at the discretion of the carter or groom. The most harmless cordial, 

 if abused, and the best if given with discretion, is composed of four parts 

 each of carraway powder and bruised raisins, and two each of ginger and 

 palm oil, well beaten into a mass. 



Corrosive Sublimate. — See Mercury. 

 Cream of Tartar. — See Superacetate of Potash. 



Croton Tiglii. — The croton-nut has not been long introduced into 

 veterinary practice, although it has been used from time immemorial by 

 the inhabitants of India as a powerful purgative. An oil has been ex- 

 tracted from it, and used by a surgeon; the meal is adopted by the veteri- 

 Parian. It is given in doses from a scruple to a half a drachm, and, from 

 its acrid nature, in ball with an ounce of linseed meal. When it does 

 operate, the effect is generally observed in six or eight hours, and the stools 

 are profuse and watery, and the patient frequently griped. On account 

 of its quick operation, it may be given in locked jaw and staggers ; and 

 also in dropsy of the chest or belly, from the watery and profuse stools it 

 produces ; but it is often uncertain in its operation, and its griping and the 

 debility it occasions are serious objections to it as common physic. A tur- 

 pentine tincture of the powdered nut makes an active blister; but not so 

 effectual or safe as the cantharides. 



Diuphoretics, are medicines that increase the sensible and insensible 

 perspiration of the animal. (See page 373.) These, as it regards t)ie 

 horse, are neither many nor powerful. Antimony in its various forms 

 (see page 384,) and sulphur, have some effect in opening the pores of the 

 skin, and exciting its vessels to action, and especially when assisted by 

 warmth of stable or clothing, and therefore useful in those diseases where 

 it is desirable that some portion of the blood should be diverted from the 

 overloaded, and inflamed, and vital organs of the chest, to the skin or the 

 extremities ; but the only diaphoretics on which much confidence can be 

 placed, and especially to produce condition, are warm clothing and good 

 grooming. 



Digestives are applications to recent or old wounds, as mild stimulants 

 to produce a healthy appearance and action in them, and to cause them 

 more speedily to heal. A weak solution of blue vitriol is an excellent 

 digestive; so is the tincture of aloes, and the tincture of myrrh. The best 

 digestive ointment is one composed of three parts of the common calamine* 

 vintment (Turner's cerate) and one of common turpentine. 



Digitalis. — The leaves of the common fox-glove, gathered about the 

 flowering-time, dried carefully in the dark, and powdered, and kept in a 



