502 MEDICINE. 



mended by Mr. Vines, in combination with vegetable bitters, as a stimulating 

 tonic, in cases of debility. He next applied them for the cure of Glanders, 

 and with considerable success. The Veterinary public is much indebted to Mr. 

 Vines, for the steadiness with which he has followed up the employment of the 

 Spanish-fly. The dose is from five to eight grains given daily, but withheld fur 

 a day or two when diuresis supervenes. 



CAPSICI BACCJE, CAPSICUM BERRIES. They are valuable as stimulants affect- 

 ing the system generally, yet not too much accelerating the pulse. Their bene- 

 ficial effect in cases of cold, has seldom been properly estimated. The dose 

 is from a scruple to half a drachm. 



CARUI SEMINA, CARAWAY SEEDS. These and Ginger, alone or combined, 

 are the best stimulants used in horse-practice. 



CASCARILL.E CORTEX, CASCARILLA BARK. Tonic as well as aromatic. It 

 must not, however, be used with the sulphates of iron or zinc. 



CASTOR OIL, OLEUM RICINI. An expensive medicine. It must be given in 

 large doses, and even then it is uncertain in its effects. Mild as is its operation 

 in most animals, it sometimes gripes and even endangers the horse. 



CATECHU, JAPAN EARTH, yet, no earth, but extracted from the wood of 

 one of the acacia trees, is a very useful astringent. It is given in super- 

 purgation, in doses of one or two drachms, with opium, as a yet more power- 

 ful astringent ; chalk, to neutralize any acid in the stomach or bowels ; and 

 powdered gum, to sheath the over-irritated mucous coat of the intestines. It is 

 not often adulterated in our country, but grossly so abroad fine sand and alu- 

 minous earth being mixed with the extract. It is seldom given with any 

 alkali, yet the prescription just recommended contains chalk : but, although tho 

 chalk, as an alkali, may weaken the astringency of the catechu, it probably 

 neutralizes some acid in the stomach or bowels, that would have diminished 

 the power of the catechu to a greater degree. It must not be given in conjunc- 

 tion with any metallic salt, for the tannin or gallic acid, on which its power 

 chiefly or entirely depends, has an affinity for all metals, and will unite with 

 them, and form a gallate of them, possessing little astringent energy. Common 

 ink is the union of this tannin principle with iron. 



A tincture of catechu is sometimes made by macerating three ounces of the 

 powder in a quart of spirit for a fortnight. It is an excellent application for 

 wounds ; and, with the aloes, constitutes all that we want of a balsamic nature 

 for the purpose of hastening the healing process of wounds. 



CAUSTICS are substances that burn or destroy the parts to which they are 

 applied. First among them stands the red-hot iron, or actual cautery, and then 

 pure alkalies, potash, and soda, and the sulphuric arid nitrous acids. Milder 

 caustics are found in the sulphate of copper, red precipitate, burnt alum, and 

 verdigris. They are principally used to destroy fungous excrescences, or 

 stimulate indolent tumours, or remove portions of cellular substance, or 

 muscle infected by any poison. 



CRETA PREPARATA, CHALK, is principally used in combination with catechu 

 and opium in cases of super- purgation. All adventitious matters are removed 

 by washing, and the prepared or levigated chalk remains in the form of an im- 

 palpable powder. It is usually administered in doses of two or three ounces. 

 It is externally applied over ulcers that discharge a thin and ichorous matter. 



CHAMOMILE, ANTHEJHIS. The powder of the flower is a useful vegetable 

 tonic, and the mildest in our list. It is given in doses of one or two drachms, and 

 is exhibited in the early stage of convalescence in order to ascertain whether the 

 febrile stage of the disease is passed, and to prepare the way for a more power- 

 ful tonic, the gentian. If no acceleration of pulse, or heat of mouth, or indica- 

 tion of return of fever, accompanies the cautious use of the chamomile, the 



