MUSTARD DRESSINGS 579 



the kidneys, it promotes diuresis. It is occasionally used 

 for maintaining or increasing the effects of cantharides, but 

 in horses considerable caution is necessary in applying the 

 one irritant soon after the other. 



Mustard is specially indicated where extensive counter- 

 irritation has to be speedily produced and stimulation of the 

 kidneys avoided. Cantharides or mercuric iodide ointment 

 is preferable in chronic disease of joints, and where struc- 

 tural changes have occurred in bone, cartilage, or tendon. 

 Neither mustard, nor indeed any blister, can be directly 

 applied to parts extensively or deeply inflamed without 

 causing much irritation, and probably sloughing. 



DOSES, etc. If used as a stomachic, carminative, or mild 

 stimulant, horses take ^iv. to ^vi. ; cattle, ss. to j. ; 

 sheep and pigs, 3J- to 3^- > dogs, grs. x. to grs. xx. To 

 prevent irritation of the fauces, it is given in the form of 

 pill, bolus, or electuary. Larger doses, especially in solution, 

 act as emetics in dogs, cats, and pigs. 



Externally, it is used generally as a paste made as for the 

 table, with cold water. Hot water or admixture of spirit, 

 acid, or alkali coagulates the ferment, and impairs its action. 

 A mustard paste made with water produced, in six minutes, 

 effects similar to those produced in fifty minutes with 

 mustard mixed with vinegar. Extra activity is secured by 

 using black and white mustard seeds, in about equal amount, 

 ground unmixed with bland ingredients, or by adding to the 

 paste made from the mustard of the shops a little oil of 

 turpentine. The freshly-made paste is usually applied 

 directly to the skin, with friction ; after fifteen or twenty 

 minutes it may be washed off with tepid water, and, if 

 required, again applied two or three times. Such repeated 

 moderate external warming is usually more serviceable 

 than one violent dressing, whether for diminution of con- 

 gestion, relief of pain, or even for removal of exudate. 



For veterinary patients little use is made of plasters 

 prepared by spreading mustard upon calico or paper ; of 

 leaves consisting of powdered mustard seeds and gutta- 

 percha solution spread upon cartridge paper and dried ; or 

 of poultices usually made with equal parts of mustard and 

 linseed meal, well stirred with four parts of hot water. 



