472 NAYIN OX THE IIOESE. 



drake, or May-apple, root. It is a brown powder. It has i\ot 

 been much used in the treatment of the horse, but I am sure 

 it will attain high favor among horse-doctors. It is a very 

 slow cathartic ; but its good effects commence very soon after 

 it is given. It .acts principally on the glands, and especially 

 the liver. It lessens the action of the heart and arteries, and 

 for this reason is very valuable in all cases of inflammation 

 requiring a physic. 



The dose of podophyllin for the horse is from thirty to forty 

 grains. The dose should be mixed with a tea-spoonful of gin- 

 ger, and then mixed with a pint of gruel, and given as a 

 drench. Forty-two grains of podophyllin were given to a fine 

 mare with inflammation of the womb, after all other measures 

 had failed to give any relief. In a few hours the pulse began 

 to decrease and become softer, the breathing became less dif- 

 ficult, and the symptoms generally improved, and by the time 

 the medicine had quit acting on the bowels, all symptoms of 

 inflammation had disappeared. It may be used with equally 

 good effect in strangles, inflammation of the liver, and any 

 other inflammatory disease where physic is admissible. On 

 account of its slowness of action it should be given early in 

 the treatment. It is the best remedy known where a physic 

 is given as an alterative. 



Potash. — There are several chemical combinations of potash 

 which are useful in medicine, and some very valuable to the 

 horse-doctor, which I shall now consider. Niter, saltpeter, 

 or nitrate of potash, are different names for the same article, 

 Mter is found in many places ready formed by nature. It is 

 also manufactured. It is a very important remedy in our 

 practice. It is one of our principal febrifuges. Its action is 

 to cool the system, lessen the action of the heart and arteries, 

 and increase the flow of urine. It is used in all fevers and 

 inflammations, and affections of the kidneys. It also forms a 

 cooling lotion with water for many local inflammations. The 



