THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 79 



Ipecac, . } 



Lobelia, . > cf each, powdered, 1 ounce. 



Bloodroot, ) 



Mix. Divide in six parts, and give one in warm water twice a day. 



Then take vinegar, .1 pint, 



" mustard, 4 ounces, 



" tincture of capsicum, . . 2 ounces. 



Rub this briskly over the region of the chest, and over all apply 

 flannels wrung out in warm vinegar. Keep the flannel in close 

 contact with the parts by passing a cotton roller several times 

 round the body, which, together with the application, may be dis- 

 continued so soon as sufficient counter irritation or soreness is 

 insured. We have found it necessary in some cases to apply the 

 same counter irritant to the fetlocks ; it may create great uneasi- 

 ness, but it is beneficial at times, for we know that every muscu- 

 lar effort of the animal tends to favor the passage of the blood 

 through its capillary floodgates, and tends to the more equal 

 distribution of that fluid. At the same time, we must remember 

 that the foot of a horse, in consequence of its highly-organized 

 arterial and venous structures, is apt to take on a specific form of 

 inflammation, termed laminitis, on the application of an exciting 

 irritant. And the pleural difficulty, in some cases, may gravi- 

 tate, by a process termed metastasis, — which implies the shifting 

 of a disease from one part to another, — to the feet, and thus 

 produce a disease almost as difficult to treat as the one now un- 

 der consideration. Therefore due caution must be observed in 

 local applications of this character. 



To allay pain and calm the nervous irritation, we use 



Powdered assafcetida, . ) e -, , •, , 

 « pleurisy root, \ of each 1 drachm. 



Sirup of garlic, 2 ounces. 



Thin gruel, 1 pint. 



Two or three doses of this given at intervals of twelve hours 

 will probably suffice. 



In cases where the lungs are involved in the disease — which 

 may be known by the presence of a troublesome cough — the 

 following drench has been found of great value : — 



Sweet spirits of nitre, ... 3 drachms. 



Balsam copaiba, £ an ounce. 



Mucilage of gum Arabic, . . 6 ounces. 



To be repeated at discretion. 



