44b MEDICINES. 



act as a fomentation to the inflamed and irritalDle surface of the 

 bowels, and will have no inconsiderable effect even as an ape- 

 rient. 



In cases of over-purging or inflammation of the bowels, the 

 injection must be of a soothing nature. It may consist of gruel 

 alone, or, if the purging is considerable, and difficult to stop, the 

 ruel must be thicker, and four ounces of prepared or powdered 

 chalk well mixed with or suspended in it, with two scruples or 

 a drachm of powdered opium. 



No oil should enter into the composition of a clyster, except 

 that linseed oil may be used for the expulsion of the ascarides, 

 or needle-worms. 



In epidemic catarrh, when the horse sometimes obstinately 

 refuses to eat or to drink, his strength may be supported by 

 nourishing clysters ; but they should consist of thick gruel only, 

 and not more than a quart should be administered at once. A 

 greater quantity would be ejected soon alter the pipe is with- 

 drawn. Strong broths, and more particularly ale and wine, are 

 dangerous ingredients. They may rapidly aggravate the fever, 

 and should never be administered, excej^t under the superin- 

 tendence, or by the direction, of a veterinary surgeon. 



The principal art of administering a clyster consists in not 

 frightening the horse. The pipe, well oiled, should be very 

 gently introduced, and the fluid not too hastily thrown into the 

 intestine ; its heat being as nearly as possible that of the intes- 

 tine, or about 96° of Fahrenheit's thermometer. 



CoLLYRiA, Lotions for the Eye. — These have been suffi- 

 ciently described when inflammation of the eyes was treated of 



Copaiba, Balsam of Cafivi. — The resin is obtained from a 

 tree growing in South America and the West India Islands. It 

 IS expensive, much adulterated, and seldom used ; for its proper- 

 ties differ but little from those of common diuretics. 



Copper. — There are two combinations of this metal used in 

 veterinary practice : the verdigris or subacetate, and the blue 

 vitriol or sulphate. 



Verdigris, or Subacetate of Copiier is the common rust ol 

 that metal produced by subjecting it to the action of acetic acid. 

 It is given internally by some practitioners, in doses of two oi 

 three drachms daily, as a tonic, and particularly for the cure of 

 farcy. It is, however, an uncertain and dangerous medicine. 

 The corrosive sublimate, with vegetable tonics, as recommended 

 at page 117, is preferable. Verdigris is, however, usefully ap- 

 plied externally as a mild caustic. Either alone, in the form 

 of fine powder, or mixed with an equal quantity of the sugar 

 (superacetate) of lead, it eats down proud flesh, or stimulates old 

 ulcers to healthy action. When boiled with honey and vinegar, 



