42G THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 



Hydrastus Canadensis, ( Goldenseal.) 

 This article has lately been introduced into our materia medica. 

 It is a valuable tonic and alterative, and as all bitter medicines 

 are supposed to be laxative, that property may with propriety 

 alio be added. This agent may be used with safety whenever 

 the nature of the case requires that these indications are to be 

 fulfilled. Dr. McCann has contributed an article to the New 

 Jersey Medical Reporter, (November number,) in favor of this 

 valuable article. He " was led to the use of goldenseal by no- 

 ticing its well-known sanative properties over inflammations of 

 the mucous surfaces, such as aphthae of the mouth, &c. I hope 

 that some of the profession will give the article a fair trial." 



Goldenseal possesses all the tonic properties attributed to gen- 

 tian ; it is superior to that article, however, inasmuch as its ther- 

 apeutic action is susceptible of wider range. It may be used in 

 cases of local inflammation, when the latter article, in conse- 

 quence of its stimulating effect, would be positively injurious. 

 There is no agent in the materia medica that admits of a wider 

 range of application than the one under consideration. As an 

 alterative it ranks higher, in our estimation, than any single 

 medicine ever used, and we feel confident that the veterinary 

 profession will, in subsequent years, give this article a decided 

 preference to the mineral alteratives. It acts very gradually on 

 the system of a horse, improving the depraved secretions and 

 excretions, especially in those broken-down states of constitu- 

 tion supervening on hard work, bad management, and in that 

 prostrated state of the system which sometimes follows the im- 

 prudent use of the fleam, antimony, arsenic, nitre, &c, &c. Its 

 mode of action is less evident than its ultimate effects : it changes 

 existing morbid actions, without any apparent influence over any 

 particular function. Its manifest general effect is, to invigorate 

 the system as a whole, and thus aid in removing disease wherev- 

 er it may be located. The complaints for which we have gen- 

 erally prescribed it are acute and chronic diseases of the liver, 

 and diseases of the mucous surfaces, in doses of from one to three 

 drachms every twelve hours. In ophthalmia it may be used 

 with decided advantage as a local application, in the proportion 

 of half a drachm of the powder to half a pint of boiling water. 



