MEDICINES. 449 



Nauseants — medicines which cause sickness at the stomach. 

 Medicines which vomit the human patient are only nauseants 

 to the horse. There are many of them, as tartar emetic, lo- 

 belia, blood-root, sulphate of zinc, etc. They are frequently 

 used in the treatment of the diseases of the horse, and are very 

 valuable remedies. They are substitutes for bleeding. 



Stimulants — articles which increase the heat of the system, 

 and increase the action of the heart and lungs. They have a 

 hot or pungent taste. They are useful in many cases, both 

 internally and rubbed on the outside. Capsicum, or Cayenne 

 pepper, ginger, black pepper, camphor, whisky, and many 

 other articles belong to this class. 



Tonics are medicines which improve the tone or energies of 

 the system. Most bitter plants, and iron, belong to this class. 

 Their eifect is to improve the blood. 



AntisjKismodics are medicines wdiich act on the system in 

 such a w\ay as to relieve spasms. This name means opposed 

 to spasms. They are useful in lock-jaw, colic, apoplexy, and. 

 several other diseases. Turpentine, chloroform, lobelia, asa- 

 fcetida, gelseminum, and prickly-ash belong to this class. 



Narcotics are medicines which benumb the sensibility of the' 

 system. They lessen the disposition to move, and produce 

 sleep. In overdoses they prodiTce death. Opium, tobacco,, 

 hemlock, and belladonna, or deadly nightshade, are narcotics.. 



Sedatives lessen the action and power of the muscles, nerves,. 

 and arteries. They are generally narcotics also. The seda- 

 tives most used are digitalis, niter, opium, and veratrum viride.. 



Carminatives are articles which expel or drive off wind, as 

 caraway seeds, prickly-ash berries, compound spirits of laven- 

 der, black pepper, ginger, cloves, sage, peppermint, etc. They 

 are useful in colic, and windy griping in any disease. If no other 

 remedy is at hand, in colic any of these may be given freely.. 



Belaxants deprive the muscles of their power, so that they 

 are not under the control of the will. Lobelia and gelsemi- 

 num are of this class. 

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