DRUGS WHICH ACT UPON THE SKIN 473 



Pilocarpine is said to have a diaphoretic action by some observers, but it is 

 not in general use. 



The want of a drug in veterinary practice which will make a hoi'se 

 sweat is not so much felt as medical practitioners sometimes imagine, 

 since the equine patient can generally be made to perspire by the use 

 of additional clothing and an increase in the temperature of the stable. 



REMEDIES FOR EXCESSIVE SWEATING 



Tliese are usually to be sought in hygienic conditions rather than in 

 the administration of drugs. When horses sweat unduly with only 

 moderate exertion, it is usually a sign of weakness or want of condition. 

 If any drugs are prescribed, those of the tonic class will be chosen. 



Belladonna and atropine are believed to restrain sweating in horses, 

 as they also do, and in a higher degree, in the human subject, but their 

 use is only indicated under circumstances of disease. 



DRUGS WHICH IMPROVE THE CONDITION OF THE SKIN 



These have been dealt with at some length in the pages devoted to 

 alteratives and tonics, more particularly in reference to those combinations 

 of vegetable and mineral drugs which have so long enjoyed a reputation 

 for conditioning. 



DRUGS WHICH ACT UPON THE KIDNEYS, BLADDER, AND 



GENERATIVE ORGANS 



In horse medicine this class is at once the most important and the 

 most abused. Drugs which increase the amount of urine passed are called 

 diuretics, and in the hands of the groom and carter have been productive 

 of an incalculable amount of injury. 



Diuretics are employed for so many purposes, and with such obvious 

 results, that their popularity is easily accounted for. While increasing 

 the actual quantity of fluid passed, they give relief to the kidneys by 

 washing out the uriniferous tubes, and carrying away any accumulated 

 mucus and fine saline particles which might eventuate in the production 

 of calculi. They lower temperature and relieve the common symptoms 

 of fever, and cause the removal of some of its products in the urinary 

 discharges. In all diseases of the horse in which there is enlargement 

 of the extremities and other depending parts from infiltration of fluid into 

 the tissues, diuretics have a marked and immediate efl'ect. In certain 



