442 MEDICINES. 



when sulphuret of ammonia is added to a solution of it. It has 

 also been externally applied in oliest affections, in combination 

 with lard, and in quantities of from one drachm to two drachms 

 of the antimony, to an ounce of the lard ; but, except in extreme 

 oases, recourse should not be had to it, on account of the exten- 

 sive sloughino' which it sometimes produces. 



Aqua Fortis, — see Acidum Nitricum. 



Arabic Gum, — see Acacia Gummi. 



PuLvis Antimonu Compositus, the Compound Powder of An- 

 timony, James' Powder. — It is employed as a sudorific in fever, 

 either alone or in combination with mercurials. The dose is from 

 one to two drachms. The* late Mr. Bloxam used to trust to it 

 alone in the treatment of Epidemic Catarrh in the horse. It is, 

 however, decidedly inferior to Emetic Tartar. It is often adul- 

 terated with chalk and burnt bones, and other white powders, 

 and that to so shameful a degree, that little dependence can be 

 placed on the antimonial powder usually sold by druggists. The 

 muriatic or sulphuric acids will detect most of these adultera 

 tions. 



Anti-spasmodics. — Of these our lirt is scanty, for the horse is 

 subject only to a few spasmodic diseases, and there are fewer 

 medicines which have an anti-spasmodic effect. Opium stands 

 first for its general power, and that exerted particularly in locked- 

 jaw. Oil of turpentine is almost a specific for spasm of the 

 bowels. Camphor, assafoetida, and various other medicines, used 

 on the human subject, have a very doubtful effect on the horse, 

 or may be considered as almost inert. 



Argentum, Silver, Lunap^ Caustic. — One combination only of 

 this metal is used, and that as a manageable and excellent caus- 

 tic, viz., the Lunar Caustic. It is far preferable to the hot iron, 

 or to any acid, for the destruction of the part if a horse should 

 have been bitten by a rabid dog ; and it stands next to the butyr 

 of antimony for the removal of fungus generally. It has not yet 

 been administered internally to the horse. 



Arsenic. — This drug used to be employed as a tonic, in order 

 to core out old ulcers ; but it is now seldom employed, for there 

 are better and safer tonics, and far better and safer caustics. 



Balls. — The usual and the most convenient mode of adminis- 

 tering veterinary medicines is in the form of balls, compounded 

 with oil, and not with honey or syrup, on account of their longer 

 keeping soft and more easily dissolving in the stomach. Balls 

 should never weigh more than an ounce and a half, otherwise 

 they will be so large as not to pass without difficulty down the 

 gullet. They should not be more than an inch in diameter and 

 three inches in length. The mode of delivering balls is not diffi- 

 cult to acquire ; but the balling-iron, while it often wounds and 



