TONICS. 463 



TONICS 



Augment the vigor of the whole body permanently, while stimu- 

 lants only act for a short time. They are chiefly useful after low 

 fever. 



104. Tonic Ball— 



Sulphate of Iron , . . . ^ ounce. 

 Extract of Camomile . . .1 ounce. 



Mix, and form into a ball. Or, 



105. Arsenic 10 grains. 



Ginger 1 drachm. 



Powdered Aniseed .... 1 ounce. 

 Compound Powder of Tragacanth . 2 drachms. 



Syrup enough to form a balL It is a very powerful tonic. 



VERMIFUGES, OR WORM MEDICINES, 

 Are described under the head of Anthelmintics, which see. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



ON soundness; and on the purchase and sale of horses. 



The elastic conscience of a horsedealer has become a 

 byword ; but I confess that my experience does not lead me to con- 

 clude that the class is more open to charges of unfair dealing than 

 many others whose proceedings have lately been exposed in the 

 Bankruptcy and Nisi Prius law courts. Few intending purchasers 

 of a horse will be content with anything less than what they believe 

 to be absolute perfection in him ; and if the seller tells the truth 

 about the animal he has to dispose of, his chance of a sale would be 

 a poor one. The dealer is, therefore, placed in the dilemma of being 

 compelled either to give his horse a character which he does not 

 deserve, or to forego all chance of a sale ; and hence it is not sur- 

 prising that he draws rather extensively upon his imagination. 

 According to my experience, however, amateurs are not exempt 

 from this failing; and if I were compelled to purchase a horse from 

 character alone, I should far prefer relying upon that given by a re- 

 spectable dealer. The latter class are, no doubt, more skilled in 

 hiding defects and disease, and therefore it requires a more prac- 

 ticnl knowledge of the horse to detect their artifices where they are 

 sufficiently shortsighted to adopt them. On the whole, however, it 

 may generally be concluded that unless a gentleman has had an ex- 

 tensive experience in purchasing horses, he will do well to place 

 himself in the hands of a dealer, telling him exactly what he ivants, 

 and not pretending a knowledge which he does not possess. 



