44 D MEDICINES. 



By alteratives we understand those drugs which effect ?omc 

 slow change in the diseased action of certain parts without inter- 

 i'ering with the food or work ; but by common consent the term 

 seems to be confined to medicines for the diseases of the circula- 

 tion, or of the digestive organs, or of the skin. If a horse is heavy 

 and incapable of work from too good keep, or if he is off his food 

 from some temporary indigestion — or if he has mange or grease, 

 or cracked heels, or swelled legs, a few alteratives are prescribed, 

 and the complaint -is expected to be gradually and imperceptibly 

 removed. For all skin affections there is no better alterative 

 than that so often recommended in this treatise, consisting of 

 black antimony, nitre, and sulphur. If there is any tendency to 

 grease, some resin may be added to each ball . If the complaint is ac- 

 companied by weakness, a little gentian and ginger may be farther 

 added, but we enter our protest against the ignorant use of mer 

 cury in any form, or any of the mineral acids, or mineral tonics, 

 or heating spices, as alteratives. We indeed should be pleased 

 if we could banish the term alterative from common usage. The 

 mode of proceeding which reason and science would dictate is to 

 ascertain the nature and the degree of the disease, and then the 

 medicine which is calculated to restore the healthy action of the 

 part, or of the frame generally. 



Alum, — is occasionally used internally in cases of over-purging 

 in the form of alum-whey, two drachms of the powder being 

 added to a pint of hot milk ; but there are much better astrin- 

 gents, although this may sometimes succeed when others fail. If 

 alum is added to a vegetable astringent, as oak-bark, the power 

 of both is diminished. Its principal use is external. A solution 

 of two drachms to a pint of water forms alone, or Avith the addi- 

 tion of a small quantity of white vitriol, a very useful wash for 

 cracked heels, and for grease generally ; and also for those forms 

 of swelled legs attended with exudation of moisture through the 

 skin. Some add the Goulard lotion, forgetting the chemical de 

 composition that takes place ; the result of which is, that the al 

 umine, possessing little astringency, is detached, and two salts 

 with no astringency at all, the sulphate of lead and the sulphate 

 of potash, are formed. 



The Burnt Alum is inferior to the common alum for the pur- 

 poses mentioned, and we have better stimulants, or caustics, to 

 apply to wounds. 



Anise Seed, — see Anisi Semina. 



Ammonia, Hap^tshorn, — is, to the annoyance of the horse, and 

 the injury of his eyes and his lungs, plentifully extricated from 

 the putrefying dung and urine of the stable ; but, when combined 

 with water in the common form of hartshorn, it is seldom used in 

 veterinary practice It has been given, and with decided benefit 



