406 MEDICINE. 



In epidemic catarrh, when the horse sometimes obstinately refuses to eat or to drink, 

 his strength may be supported by nourishing clysters ; but tiiey should consist of thick 

 gruel only, and not more than a (juart should be administered at once, A greater 

 quantity would be ejected soon after the pipe is withdrawn. Strong broths, and more 

 particularly ale and wine, are dangerous ingredients. They may rapidly aggravate 

 the fever, and should never be administered, except under the superintendence, or by 

 the direction, of a veterinary surgeon. 



The principal art of administering a clyster consists in not frightening the horse. 

 The pipe, well oiled, should be very gently introduced, and the fluid not too hastily 

 thrown into the intestine; its heat being as nearly as possible that of the intestine, 

 or about 96° of Fahrenheit's thermometer. 



CoLLYRiA, Lotions for the Eves. — These have been sufficiently described when 

 inflammation of the eyes was treated of. 



Copaiba, Balsam of Capivi. — The resin is obtained from a tree growing in South 

 America and the West India Islands. It is expensive, much adulterated, and seldom 

 used ; for its properties differ but little from those of common diuretics. 



Copper. — There are two combinations of this metal used in veterinary practice : 

 the verdigris or subacetate, and the blue vitriol or sulphate. 



Verdi s^ris or Subacetate of Copper is the common rust of that metal produced by 

 subjecting it to the action of acetic acid. It is given internally by some practitioners, 

 in doses of two or three drachms daily, as a tonic, and particularly for the cure of 

 farcy. It is, however, an uncertain and dangerous medicine. The corrosive subli- 

 mate, with vegetable tonics, as recommended at page 138, is preferable. Verdigris 

 is, however, usefully applied externally as a mild caustic. Either alone, in the form 

 of fine powder, or mixed with an equal quantity of the sugar (superacetate) of lead, 

 it eats down proud flesh, or stimulates old ulcers to healthy action. W hen boiled 

 with honey and vinegar, it constitutes the farriers' Egyptiacum, certainly of benefit 

 in cankered or ulcerated mouth, and no bad application for thrushes ; but yielding, as 

 it regards both, to better remedies, that are mentioned under the proper heads. Some 

 practitioners use alum and oil of vitriol in making their Egyptiacum, forgetting the 

 strange decomposition which is produced. 



Blue Vitriol or Sulphate of Copper is the union of sulphuric acid and copper. It is 

 a favourite tonic with many practitioners, and has been vaunted as a specific for glan- 

 ders; while others, and we think properly, have no very good opinion of it in either 

 respect. As a cure for glanders, its reputation has nearly passed aw'ay. As a tonic, 

 when the horse is slowly recovering from severe illness, it is dangerous, and its 

 internal use should be confined to cases of long-continued discharge from the nostril, 

 when catarrh or fever has ceased. It may then be given with benefit in doses of 

 from one to two drachms twice in the day, and always combined with gentian and 

 ginger. It is principally valuable as an external application, dissolved in water in 

 the proportion of two drachms to a pint, and acting as a gentle stimulant. If an 

 ounce is dissolved in the same quantity of water, it becomes a mild caustic. In the 

 former proportion, it rouses old ulcers to a healthy action, and disposes even recent 

 wounds to heal more quickly than they otherwise would do; and in the latter it re- 

 moves fungous granulations or proud flesh. The blue vitriol is sometimes reduced to 

 powder and sprinkled upon the wound for this purpose : it is also a good application 

 for canker in the foot. 



Cordials are useful or injurious according to the judgment with which they are 

 given. When a horse comes home thoroughly exhausted, and refuses his food, a 

 cordial may be beneficial. It may rouse the stomach and the system generally, 

 and may prevent cold and fever; but it is poison to the animal when administered 

 after the cold is actually caught and fever begins to appear. More to be rrprobated 

 is the practice of giving frequent cordials, that by their stimulus on the stomach, (the 

 skin sympathising so much with that viscus,) a fine coat may be produced. The 

 artificial excitement of the cordial soon becomes as necessary to enable the horse to 

 do even common work, as is the excitement of the dram to sustain the animal spirits 

 of the drunkard. 



In order to recall the appetite of the horse slowly recovering from illness, a cordial 

 may sometimes be allowed; or to old horses that have been worked hard and used 

 to these excitements when young; or to draught horses, that have exhibited slight 

 symptoms of staggers when their labour has been unusually protracted and their sto* 



