MEDICINES 443 



permanently injures the bars, occasions the horse to strupfole more 

 than he otherwise would against the administration of the medi- 

 cine. The horse should be backed in the stall ; — the tongue 

 should be drawui gently out with the left hand on the off side of 

 the mouth, and there fixed, not by continuing to pull at it, but 

 by pressing the fingers against the side of the lower jaw. The 

 ball, being now taken between the tips of the fingers of the right 

 hand, is passed rapidly up the mouth, as near to the palate as 

 possible, until it reaches the root of the tongue. It is then deliv- 

 ered with a slight jerk, and the hand being immediately with- 

 drawal and the tongue liberated, the ball is forced through the 

 pharynx into the (Esophagus. Its passage should be watched 

 down the left side of the throat ; and if the passage of it is not 

 seen going down, a slight tap or blow under the chin will gen- 

 erally cause the horse to swallow it, or a few gulps of water will 

 convey it into the stomach. Very few balls should be kept ready 

 made, for they become so hard as to be incapable of passing down 

 the gullet, or dissolving in the stomach, and the life of the horse 

 may be endangered or lost.. This is peculiarly liable to be the 

 case if the ball is too large, or wrapped in thick paper. 



Balsam of Capivi, — see Copaiba. 



Bark, Peruvian. — A concentrated preparation of this is entitled 

 the Sulphate of Q^uinine. The simple bark is now seldom used 

 If it has any good effect, it is in diabetes. The quinine, however, 

 is strongly recommended^by Professor Morton as singularly effica- 

 cious in the prostration of strength which is often the conseonence 

 of influenza. 



Basilicon Ointment, — is a valuable digestive ointment, com- 

 posed of resin, bees- wax, and olive-oil. If it is needed as a stim- 

 ulant, a little turpentine and verdigris may be added. 



Belladonna Extractum, Extract of Deadly Nightshade. — 

 The inspissated juice is principally used as a narcotic and sed*?- 

 tive, and indicated where there is undue action of the nervous 

 and vascular systems, as in tetanus, carditis, and nervous affec- 

 tions generally. Externally, it is beneficially applied to tne 

 eye. 



Blisters, — are applications to the skin which separate the cu- 

 ticle in the form of vesicles containing a serous fluid. They ex- 

 cite increased action in the vessels of the skin, by means of which 

 this fluid is thrown out. The part, or neighboring parts, are some- 

 what relieved by the discharge, but more by the inflammation 

 and pain that are produced, and lessen that previously existing in 

 some contiguous part. On this principle we account for the de- 

 cided relief often obtained by blisters in inflammation of the lungs, 

 and their efficacy in abating deeply-seated disease, as that of the 

 tendons, ligaments, or joints; and also the necessity of previously 



