MEDICINES AND RECEIPTS 597 



6. Belladonna. 



Source. — Belladonna is the product of a plant known as 

 Deadly Nightshade. It grows wild in some parts of Great 

 Britain, and is also cultivated to a great extent. The form 

 used mostly in practice is the Fluid Extract of Belladonna. 



Action and Use. — It soothes, softens and relaxes the 

 parts to which it is applied and is extensively used in almost 

 any part of the body to relieve the pain and check the 

 inflammation. The Extract of Belladonna is strong and must 

 be used carefully. 



Dose. — Fluid Extract of Belladonna — For horses, 1 dram 

 or 1 teaspoonful ; cattle, 1 dram or 1 teaspoonful ; sheep, 10 

 drops ; pigs and dogs, 3 to 5 drops. Belladonna is extensively 

 used for diseases of the eyes in the form of an eye wash. 

 For further information look at the receipt for eye wash at 

 the back of this book. It is also greatly used for dilating or 

 opening the neck of the womb, in any animal, where it re- 

 mains closed when ready to be delivered of their young. It 

 is used a great deal for this trouble in cows. 



7. Benzoin. 



Source. — Benzoin is obtained from a tree called styrax 

 benzoin, which grows in the southern part of Asia. It is got 

 by cutting a hole in the bark and catching the sap which 

 soon becomes hard and brittle. 



Action and Use. — The form in which it is used is known 

 as Compound Tincture of Benzoin, or Friar's Balsam, which 

 is prepared from the gum. Its chief action is in healing 

 wounds, and is used by painting the wound over with a 

 feather twice a day. It is especially useful for caulks, or 

 where a nail has run in the foot, to counteract the effect of 

 the poison. It is used but little internally. 



8. Buckthorn. 



Source. — Buckthorn is obtained from the ripe berries of 

 a shrubby bush that grows along the North Pacific Coast. 

 The form- in use is known as Syrup of Buckthorn. 



Action and Use. — It is principally used as a mild physic 

 for dogs. 



Dose. — For a dog give 1 to 2 ounces ; cats, y 2 ounce. A 

 very good plan is to give a dessertspoonful of the syrup 

 every night and morning until you get the desired results. 



