456 MEDICINES. 



Banbury, frequently resorts to it in fistulous affections of the poL' 

 and withers, and with considerable success. Tlie abscess having 

 formed, and exit being given to the imprisoned fluid, it is allowed 

 to discharge itself, for two or three days, being dressed with an 

 ordinary digestive ointment. When the pus assumes a laudable 

 character, he introduces a few portions of the fibrous part of the 

 root, passing them down to the bottom of the sinus, and letting 

 them remain for a fortnight or more ; in the mean time, merely 

 keeping the surrounding parts clean. On examination, it will be 

 found that the healing process has commenced. 



Professor Morton adds, that an ointment, formed of the powder 

 of either the black or white Hellebore, in the proportion of one 

 part of the powder to eight of lard, will be found exceedingly ac- 

 tive for the dressing of rowels and setons. 



Hemlock, — is used by some practitioners, instead of digitalis 

 or hellebore, in affections of the chest, whether acute or chrojiic ; 

 but it is inferior to both. The dose of the powder of the dried 

 leaves is about a drachm. 



Hog's Lard. — See Adeps. 



Hydrargyrum, Mercury. — This metal is found native in 

 many countries in the form of minute globules. It also occurs in 

 masses, and in different varieties of crystallization. It has the 

 singular property of being liquid in the natural temperature of 

 our earth. It freezes, or assumes a singular species of crystalliza- 

 tion, at 39^ below of Fah., and at 660' above of Fah. it 

 boils, and rapidly evaporates. In its metallic state it appears to 

 have no action on the animal system, but its compounds are 

 mostly powerful excitants, and some of them are active caustics. 



The Common Mercurial Ointment may be used for ring- 

 worm, and that species of acarus which seems to be the source, or 

 the precursor of, mange. The compound mercurial ointment is 

 also useful in the destruction of the same insect. For most erup- 

 tions connecting with or simulating mange, the author of this 

 work has been accustomed to apply the following ointment with 

 considerable success : — 



Sublimed sulphur . 

 Common turpentine 

 Mercurial ointment . 

 Linseed oil 



. 1 pound. 

 . 4 oz. 

 . 2 oz. 

 . 1 pint. 



The Mercurial Ointment is prepared by rubbing quicksilver 

 with lard, in the proportion of one part of mercury to three of lard, 

 until no globules appear. The practitioner should, if possible, pre- 

 pare it himself, for he can seldom get it pure or of the proper 

 strength from the druggist. It is employed with considerable ad 

 vantage in preparing splints, spavins, or other bony or callous tu 



