402 MEDICINE. 



Anodynes. — Of these there is but one in horse practice : Opium is the only drug 

 that will lull pain. It may be given as an anodyne, but it will also be an astringent 

 in doses of one, two, or three drachms. 



Antimony. — There are several valuable preparations of this metal. 

 The Black Sesqui-Sulphuret of Antimony, a compound of sulphur and antimony, 

 is a irood alterative. It is given with more sulphur and with nitre, in varying doses, 

 accordino- to the disease, and the slow or rapid effect intended to be produced. It 

 should never be bought in powder whatever trouble there may be in levigating it, for 

 It is often grossly adulterated with lead, manganese, forge-dust, and arsenic. The 

 adulteration may be detected by placing a little of the powder on a red-hot iron plate. 

 The pure sulphuret will evaporate without the slightest residue — so will the arsenic: 

 but there will be an evident smell of garlic. A portion of the lead and the manga- 

 nese will be left behind. 



Antimonii Potassio Tartkas, Emetic Tartar. — The tartrate of potash and anti- 

 mony, or a combination of super-tartrate of potash and oxide of antimony, is a very 

 useful nauseant, and has considerable etfect on the skin. It is particularly valuable 

 in inflammat'on of the lungs, and in every catarrhal affection. It is given in doses 

 of from one drachm to a drachm and a half, and combined with nitre and digitalis. 

 It is also beneficial in the expulsion of worms. It should be given in doses of two 

 drachms, and with some mechanical vermifuge, as tin filings, or ground glass, and 

 administered on an empty stomach, and for several successive days. Although it 

 may sometimes fail to expel the worms, it will materially improve the condition of 

 the horse, and produce sleekness of the coat. To a slight degree the emetic tartar is 

 decomposed by the action of light, and should be kept in a jar, or green bottle. It is 

 sometimes adulterated with arsenic, which is detected by the garlic smell when it is 

 placed on hot iron, and also by its not giving a beautiful gold-coloured precipitate 

 when sulphuret of ammonia is added to a solution of it. It has also been externally 

 applied in chest affections, in combination with lard, and in quantities of from one 

 drachm to two drachms of the antimony, to an ounce of the lard ; but, except in ex- 

 treme cases, recourse should not be had to it, on account of the extensive sloughing 

 which it sometimes produces. 



PuLVis Antimonii Compositus, The Compound Powder of Antisionv. — Com- 

 monly known by the name of James's Fnwdcr. It is employed as a sudorific in fever, 

 either alone or in combination with mercurials. The dose is from one to two drachms. 

 The late ^Ir. Bloxam used to trust to it alone in the treatment of Epidemic Catarrh 

 in the horse. It is, however, decidedly inferior to Emetic Tartar. It is often adulte- 

 rated with chalk and burnt hones, and other white powders, and that to so shameful 

 a degree, that little dependence can be placed on the nntimonial powder usually sold 

 by druggists. The muriatic or sulphuric acids will detect most of these adulterations. 

 Anti-spasmodics. — Of these our list is scanty, for the horse is subject only to a 

 few spasmodic diseases, and there are fewer medicines which have an anti-spasmodic 

 effect. Opium stands first for its general power, and that exerted particularly in 

 locked-jaw. Oil of turpentine is almost a specific for spasm of the bowels. Cam- 

 phor, assafoetida, and various other medicines, used on the human subject, have a very 

 doubtful effect on the horse, or may be considered as almost inert. 



Argentcm, Silver. — One combination only of this metal is used, and that as a 

 manageable and excellent caustic, viz., the Lunar Catislic. It is far preferable to the 

 hot iron, or to any acid, for the destruction of the part if a horse should have been 

 bitten by a rabid dog; and it stands next to the butyr of antimony for the removal of 

 fungus generally. It has not yet been administered internally to the horse. 



Arsenicum, Arsenic. — This drug used to be employed as a tonic, in order to core 

 out old ulcers; but it is now seldom employed, for there are better and safer tonics, 

 and far better and safer caustics. The method of detecting the presence of arsenic 

 in cases of poisoning has been described at page 227. 



Balls. — The nsual and the most convenient mode of administering veterinary 

 medicines is in tlie form of l)alls, compounded with oil, and not witli honey or syru]), 

 on account of their longer keeping soft and more easily dissolving in the stomach. 

 Balls should never weigh more than an ounce and a half, otherwise tiiey will he so 

 lar?e as not to pass without difficulty down the gullet. They should not be more 

 than an inch in diameter and three inches in length. The mode of delivering balls 

 is not difficult to acquire ; but tlie balling-iron, Avhile it often wounds and permanently 



