3.)6 THE HORSE. 



duririj^ the opci'fttion of the physic. They very soon become Bour, and the 

 manger of the horse of whose diet they form a principal part, should be 

 daily and carefully cleaned out. 



When horses are weakly and much reduced, malt mashes will often be 

 palatable to them and very nutritive : but the water that is poured on a 

 malt mash should be considerably below the boiling heat, or the malt will 

 be set, or clogged together. If owners were aware of the value of a malt 

 mash, it would be oftener given when the horse is rapidly getting weaker 

 from protracted disease, or when he is beginning to recover from a disease 

 by which he has been much reduced. The only exception to their use is 

 in cases of chest affection, in which they must not be given too early. In 

 grease, and in mange accompanied by much emaciation, malt mashes will 

 be peculiarly useful, and especially if they constitute a principal portion of 

 the food. 



Mercury. — The Mercurial Ointment is prepared by rubbing quicksilver 

 with lard, in the proportion of one part of mercury to three of grease, until 

 no globules appear ; the practitioner should, if possible, prepare it himself, 

 for he can neither get it pure nor of the proper strength from the druggist. 

 It is employed with considerable advantage in preparing splents, spavins, 

 or other bony or callous tumours, for blistering or firing. One or two 

 drachms, according to the nature and size of the swelling, may be daily 

 well rubbed in ; but it should be watched, for it sometimes salivates the 

 horse very speedily. The tumours more readily disperse, at the applica- 

 tion of the stronger stimulant, when they have been thus prepared. Mer- 

 curial ointment in a more diluted form is sometimes necessary for the cure 

 of mallenders and sallenders ; and in very obstinate cases of mange, one- 

 eighth part of mercurial ointment may be added to the ointment recom- 

 mended at page 379. 



Calomel, the submuriate or protochlorideof mercury, may be given, com- 

 bined with aloes, in mange, surfeit or worms ; yet better alteratives and 

 more efficient vermifuges have been described. It is admissible in some 

 cases of chronic cough, in farcy, and in jaundice, but it is not a medicine 

 that seems to agree with the horse. Alone, it has little purgative effect, 

 but it assists the action of other aperients. It is given in doses from a 

 scruple to a drachm, but must not be too often or too long repeated. As 

 soon as the gums become red, or the animal begins to quid or drop his hay, 

 it must be discontinued. 



Corrosive Suhlimate, the oxymuriate, or bichloride of mercury, com- 

 bined with chlorine in a double proportion, is a useful tonic in farcy, and 

 perhaps the most to be depended upon. It should be given in doses of ten 

 grains daily, and gradually increased to a scruple, until the horse is purged, 

 or the mouth becomes sore, when it may be omitted for a few days, and 

 resumed. Some have recommended it as a diuretic, but it is too dangerous 

 a medicine for this purpose. It is used externally in solution; and in sub- 

 stance in quiltor, as a stimulant to foul ulcers ; and in the proportion of 

 five grains to an ounce of rectified spirit in obstinate mange or to destroy 

 vermin on the skin. It is, however, too uncertain and too dangerous a 

 medicine for the horse-proprietor to venture on its use without the sanc- 

 tion nf a veterinary surgeon. 



JEthiop^s Mineral, the black sulphuret of mercury, is not often used in 

 horse practice, but it is a good alterative for obstinate surfeit or foulness 

 of the skin, in doses of three drachms daily. Four drachms of cream of 

 tartar may be advantageously added to each dose. 



Mint. — If the use of an infusion or decoction of this plant, or of the oil 

 that is extracted from it, can be at any time admitted, it is as a vehicle in 



