376 HOESE AND CATTLE MEDICINES. 



sores, ulcers, and abscesses, and is applied with soft cloths, 

 saturated or moistened with it, and laid over the affected 

 part. It is a new remedy in burns and scalds. 



Mercury. — A liquid metal called quichsilver. In its 

 metallic state it is not used as a medicine. There, how- 

 ever, is a prevalent idea in the minds of ignorant persons 

 that doctors and veterinary surgeons give this substance 

 to force a passage through the bowels, and that if it fails 

 the bowels and stomach will be ruptured or torn. If the 

 patient should die, the blame is not unfrequently laid on 

 the use of quicksilver by the doctor, when this substance 

 was never thought of for any such purpose. Quicksilver 

 has no action whatever on the animal system, either in 

 health or sickness. 



(1.) Mercury With Chalk. — Gray Poicder. Used 

 in diarrhoea in calves, in doses from ten to fifteen grains, 

 given with a little ginger, and mixed with wheat-flour 

 gruel. 



(2.) Iodide of Mercury. — (See Iodine.) 



(3.) Bi-Chloride of Mercury. — Corrosive Sublimate, 

 A dangerous poison, and should never be given to any 

 animal. It is, however, used in solution, in some skin 

 diseases, as in ring- worm and mange. AVhen so used, only 

 a small portion of the body should be washed with it in 

 one day. For this purpose, take four grains of the sub- 

 limate to two ounces of rain water. For a dog, two grains 

 to the ounce, in water, will be strong enough. 



(4.) Nitrate of Mercury. — Ointment. This is the 

 citron or golden ointment, and is a good remedy in ring- 

 worm. Unfortunately, however, it spoils with long keeping, 

 and not being made extemporaneously, it is often rancid 

 and of little value. 



