A DICTIONARY. 



219 



age of the creature may be nearly ascer- 

 tained, by adding three years to the number 

 of rings. 



Airing, in the management of horses, 

 implies exercising them in the open air. 



Albumen. — That part of the white of an 

 egg which coagulates into a solid mass 

 when boiled ; it abounds in the bones, 

 muscles, cartilage, hoof, hair, etc. 



Alcohol. — Rectified spirit. This is ex- 

 tensively used in medicine for making tinc- 

 tures. With an equal quantity of water it 

 is termed New England rum. Alcohol is a 

 powerful irritant and caustic poison, to 

 whatever part of the horse it is applied. If 

 applied externallv, it causes swelling, pain, 

 and irritation ; if given internally, it absorbs 

 from the living parts the serous or watery 

 portion, and condenses the fibrous struc- 

 ture. Alcohol, diluted in any form, acts on 

 the horse as a diuretic, causing the kidneys 

 to secrete a large amount of urine, in con- 

 sequence of which they become overworked, 

 and finally diseased. It is used as a diffu- 

 sible stimulant. The best substitute is 

 warm ginger tea. 



Aliment. — That which nourishes the 

 system. 



Alimentary Canal. — The interior of 

 the stomach and intestines. 



Alkalies. — There are different sorts: 

 soda, potash, and ammonia, are alkalies. 



Aloes. — Obtained from the aloe plant. 

 The aloes now in use as a cathartic for 

 horses, cattle, and sheep, are the Barbadoes. 

 Pure Barbadoes aloes are of a dark brown 

 color, present a rough appearance when 

 broken, and have a rather pleasant aroma. 

 (See Purgatives.) 



Alteratives. — A class of medicines 

 that act gradually and permanently upon 

 the horse, by increasing the tone and vigor 

 of the secreting, excreting, and absorbing 

 system, without diminishing or destroying 

 their power. 



Althea. — Marsh mallows. This plant 

 is generally used in the formation of emol- 

 lient drinks, as it contains a large amount 

 of mucilage. 



Alum. — A mineral astringent, used to 

 destroy proud flesh. " Alum is a powerful 

 astringent, whether administered internally 

 or applied externally. It may be given to 

 the horse in doses of from 3ij to 3iv, and 

 its employment has been attended with 

 some benefit in obstinate cases of diabetes, 

 also in diarrhoea, the primse viae having 

 been previously emptied by means of lax- 

 atives. It has Likewise been found useful 

 in dysentery and lead colic. For either of 

 these diseases it may be advantageously 

 conjoined with opium and aromatics." 

 {Mortoti's Pharmacy.) 



Amaurosis, or Gutta Serena.* — This 

 disease, known by the term glass eyes^ 

 from the peculiar glassy appearance the 

 organs assume, is generally considered 

 as dependent on a paralytic state of the 

 optic nerves, or of their expansions, the 

 retinae. By others, it is, however, thought 

 to arise from the effects of inflammation, 

 by which coagulable lymph is placed over 

 the optic nerve, rendering the retina inac- 

 cessible to the stimulus of light ; this can 

 hardly be an occasional, and is certainly not 

 the usual, cause. The disease, however, is 

 likely to arise from any irritation of the 

 brain ; thus, it is found to follow staggers 

 and the loss of large quantities of blood; 

 which last-mentioned cause especially af- 

 fects the nervous system. The veterinarian 

 should make himself familiar with the ap- 

 pearances of this complaint, otherwise he 

 may lie open to serious imposition. In 

 amaurosis, a horse presents indications of 

 blindness in his manner, though but little in 

 his eyes ; he seems cautious in stepping ; 

 lifts his legs high, and moves his ears 

 quickly, as though endeavoring to make up 

 by sound the intelligence lost by the depri- 

 vation of sight : but, above all, a hand 

 moved close to the eye occasions no wink- 

 ing, unless held near enough for the motion 

 to influence the ah- around, which an artful 

 person might manage with ease. When 

 this Idnd of eye is examined closely, the 

 pupil will be found of one invariable size 



* Blaine. 



