152 MEDIC^I'^ES. 



termittent pulse may seem to the standers-by, from that moment 

 the animal will frequently begin to amend. The dose must then 

 oe diminished one-half, and in a few days it may be omitted al- 

 together : but the emetic tartar and the nitre should be continued 

 during some days after the practitioner has deemed it prudent to 

 try the effect of mild vegetable tonics. 



There is no danger in the intermittent pulse thus produced ; 

 but there is much when the digitalis fails to produce any effect 

 on the circulation. The disease is then too powerful to be 

 arrested by medicine. Digitalis requires watching ; but the only 

 consequence to be apprehended from an over-dose is, that the pa- 

 tient may be reduced a little too low, and his convalescence re- 

 tarded for a day or two. 



In the form of infusion or tincture, digitalis is very useful in 

 inflammation of the eyes. It is almost equal in its sedative in- 

 fluence to opium, and it may with great advantage be alternated 

 with it, when opium begins to lose its power. The infusion is 

 made by pouring a quart of boiling water on an ounce of the 

 powder. When it is become cold, a portion of the liquid may be 

 introduced into the eye. One or two drops of the tincture may 

 be introduced with good effect. This may be obtained by mace- 

 rating three ounces of digitalis in a quart of spirit. 



The infusion has been serviceable in mange ; but there are 

 better applications. 



Diuretics, — constitute a useful but much abused class of medi- 

 cines. They stimulate the kidneys to secrete more than the 

 usual quantity of urine, or to separate a greater than ordinary 

 proportion of the watery parts of the blood. The deficiency of 

 water in the blood thus occasioned, must be speedily supplied, or 

 the healthy circulation cannot be carried on ; and it is generally 

 supphed by the absorbents taking up the watery fluid in some 

 part of the frame, and carrying it into the circulation. Hence 

 the evident use of diuretics in dropsical affections, in swelled legs, 

 and also in inflammation and fever, by lessening the quantity of 

 the circulating fluid, and, consequently, that which is sent to the 

 inflamed parts. 



All this is effected by the kidneys being stimulated to increased 

 action ; but if this stimulus is too often or too violently applied, 

 the energy of the kidney may be impaired, or inflamimation may 

 be produced. That inflammation may be of an acute character, 

 and destroy the patient ; or, although not intense in its nature, 

 it may by frequent repetition assume a chronic form, and more 

 slowly, but as surely, do irreparable mischief Hence the neces- 

 sity of attention to that portion of the food which may have a 

 diuretic power. Mow-burnt hay and foxy oats are the unsus- 

 pected causes of many a disease in the horse, at first obscure, but 



