MEDICINE. 401 



Aloes are most commonly, because most easily, administered in the form of ball, 

 but in a state of solution their effect is more speedy, effectual, and safe. 



Aloes are useful in the form of tincture. Eight ounces of powdered aloes, and ont 

 ounce of powdered myrrh, may be put into two quarts of rectified spirit, diluted with 

 an equal quantity of water. The mixture should be daily well shaken for a fortnight, 

 and then suffered to stand, in order that the undissolved portion may fall to the bottom. 

 This will constitute a very excellent application for wounds, whether recent or of 

 long standing and indisposed to heal. It is not only a gentle stimulant, but it forms 

 a thin crust over the wound, and shields it from the action of the air. 



The principal adulteration of aloes is by means of resin, and the alteration of colour 

 is concealed by the addition of charcoal or lamp-black. This adulteration is easily 

 enough detected by dissolving the aloes in hot water. All aloes contain some resin- 

 ous matter, which the water will not dissolve and which has very slight purgative 

 effect. The excess of this resin at the bottom of the solution will mark the degree of 

 adulteration. 



Alteratives are a class of medicines the nature and effect of which are often much 

 misunderstood, and liable to considerable abuse. It is a very convenient name in 

 order to excuse that propensity to dose the horse with medicines, which is the dis- 

 grace of the groom, and the bane of the stable. 



By alteratives we understand those drugs which effect some slow change in the 

 diseased action of certain parts without interfering with the food or work ; but by 

 common consent the term seems to be confined to medicines for the diseases of the 

 circulation, or of the digestive organs, or of the skin. If a horse is heavy and incapa- 

 ble of work from too good keep, or if he is off his food from some temporary indiges- 

 tion — or if he has mange or grease, or cracked heels, or swelled legs, a few alteratives 

 are prescribed, and the complaint is expected to be gradually and imperceptibly 

 removed. For all skin affections there is no better alterative than that so often recom- 

 mended in this treatise, consisting of black antimony, nitre, and sulphur. If there ia 

 any tendency to grease, some resin may be added to each ball. If the complaint is 

 accompanied by weakness, a little gentian and ginger may be farther added, but we 

 enter our protest against the ignorant use of mercury in any form, or any of the mine- 

 ral acids, or mineral tonics, or heating spices, as alteratives. We indeed should be 

 pleased if we could banish the term alterative from common usage. The mode of 

 proceeding which reason and science would dictate is to ascertain the nature and 

 degrei; of the disease, and then the medicine which is calculated to restore the healthy 

 action of the part, or of the frame generally. 



Alum is occasionally used internally in cases of super-purgation in the form of 

 alum-whey, two drachms of the powder being added to a pint of hot milk; but there 

 are much better astringents, although this may sometimes succeed when others fail. 

 If alum is added to a vegetable astringent, as oak-bark, the power of both is dimin- 

 ished. Its principal use is external. A solution of two drachms to a pint of water 

 forms alone, or with the addition of a small quantity of white vitriol, a very useful 

 wash for cracked heels, and for grease generally; and also for those forms of swelled 

 legs attended with exudation of moisture through the skin. Some add the Goulard 

 lotion, forgetting the chemical decomposition that takes place; the result of which is, 

 that the aluniine, possessing little astringcncy, is detached, and two salts with no 

 astringency at all, the sulphate of lead and the sulphate of potash, are formed. 



The Burnt Alum is inferior to the common alum for the purposes mentioned, and 

 we have bettor stimulants, or caustics, to apply to wounds. 



Ammonia is, to the annoyance of the horsR, and the injury of his eyes and his lungs, 

 lentifully extricated from the putrefying dung and urine of the stable; but, when 

 combined with water in the common form of hartshorn, it is seldom used in veterinary 

 practice. It has been given, and with decided benefit, and when other things have 

 failed, in flatulent colic; and is best administered in the form of the aromatic spirit of 

 ammonia, and in doses of one or two onnces, in warm water. 



Chloride of Ammonia, or sal ammoniac, is scarcely deserving of a place in our 

 list. It is not now used int'^rnally ; nnd as an astringent embrocation, it must yield 

 to several that are more effrctual, and less likely to blemish. 



Anisi Semina, Anise-ssed. — This seed is here mentioned principally as a record of 

 old times, when it was one of the sheet-anchors of the farrier. It is not yet quite 

 liscarded from his shop as a stimulant, a carminative, and a cordial. 

 3 1 * 3 a 



