72 DISEASES OF THE HOESE. 



twenty to twenty-five drops of the tincture of aconite root 

 in a little cold water. Then give the following powder 

 every two hours, until a change for the better has taken 

 place: — Prepared chalk, half an ounce; catechu in powder, 

 one drachm ; opium in j^owder, ten grains. Allow the 

 animal plenty of water to drink, which will help to keep 

 or allay irritation, or what disposition there may be to in- 

 flammation. Bran mashes should be given for a few days, 

 so as to overcome the effects of so much drying or binding 

 medicine. Cake meal, or ground flaxseed, Avill be an ex- 

 cellent assistant in this particular. 



Diathesis, — When we read in medical books of the 

 word diathesis, it means a well-marked tendency in a 

 disease by a corresponding diathesis : for example, a can- 

 cerous diathesis or an inflammatory diathesis. 



Diet. — The different articles used by the horse as food. 



Disinfectants. — French, Delsenfectants ; German, 

 Faulniss midrige Substanzen. 



Disinfectants arc such as remove the causes of infection, 

 or any injurious taint. To accomplish this ciiect, disinfec- 

 tants will have to embrace a class of substances known by 

 the name of antiseptics, (agents vrhich prevent animal or 

 vegetable matter being decomposed,) and deodorizers, 

 (agents which destroy hurtful or bad smells, vrhcn arising 

 from decomposing material.) 



(1.) Natural Disinfectants. — The atmospheric is the 

 great disinfectant. The soil has been found a valuable dis- 

 infectant, decomposing animal matter Avith great quickness, 

 and sending out gasses which arc without taint of any kind. 

 Hence, the necessity of deep burial of animals dying, or 

 that have been killed, on account of contagious diseases. 



