.410 MEDICINE. 



tions, and particularly that of the lun^s. In the hospital of the veterinary surgeon, 

 or in the stable of the gentleman wlio will superintend the giving and the operation 

 of every medicine, it may be used with safety ; but with him who has to trust to 

 others, and who does not see the horse more than once in twelve or twenty-four hours, 

 it is a dangerous drug. If it is pushed a little too far, trembling and giddiness, and 

 purging follow, and the horse is sometimes lost. The hanging of the head, and the 

 frothing of the mouth, and, more particularly, the sinking of the pulse, will give 

 Avarning of danger; but the medical attendant may not have the opportunity of ob- 

 serving this, and when he does observe it, it may be too late. Its dose varies from 

 a scruple to half a drachm. In doses of a drachm it could not be given with safety ; 

 and yet, such is the different effect of medicines given in different doses, that in the 

 quantity of an ounce it is said to be a diuretic and a tonic, and exhibited with advan- 

 tage in chronic and obstinate grease. 



Helleborus Niger, Black Hellebore. — This is used mostly as a local applica- 

 tion, and as such it is a very powerful stimulant. Mr. E. .Stanley, of Banbury, fre- 

 quently resorts to it in fistulous affections of the poll and withers, and with consider- 

 able success. The abscess having formed, and exit being given to the imprisoned 

 fluid, it is allowed to discharge itself, for two or three days, being dressed \\ilb an 

 ordinary digestive ointment. When the pus assumes a laudable character, he intro- 

 duces a few portions of the fibrous part of the root, passing them down to the bottom 

 of the sinus, and letting them remain for a fortnight or more; in the mean time, 

 merely keeping the surrounding parts clean. On examination, it will be found that 

 the healing process has commenced. 



Professor Morton adds, that an ointment, formed of the powder of either the black 

 or white Flellebore, in the proportion of one part of the powder to eight of lard, will 

 be found exceedingly active for the dressing of rowels and setons.* 



Hemlock is used by some practitioners, instead of digitalis or hellebore, in affec- 

 tions of the chest, whether acute or chronic ; but it is inferior to both. The dose of 

 the powder of the dried leaves is about a drachm. 



Hydrargyrum. — This metal is found native in many countries in the form of mi- 

 nute globules. It also occurs in masses, and in different varieties of crj'stallization. 

 It has the singular property of being liquid in the natural temperature of our earth. 

 It freezes, or assumes a singular species of crystallization, at 39° below of Fah., 

 and at 660° above of Fah. it boils, and rapidly evaporates. In its metallic state it 

 appears to have no action on the animal system, but its compounds are mostly pow- 

 erful excitants, and some of them are active caustics. 



The Common Mercurial Ointment may be used for ring-worm, and that species of 

 acarus which seems to be the source, or the precursor of, mange. The compound 

 mercurial ointment is also useful in the destruction of the same insect. For most 

 eruptions connected with or simulating mange, the author of this work has been ac- 

 customed to apply the following ointment with considerable success : — 



Sublimed sulphur 1 pound. 



Common turpentine 4 oz. 



Mercurial ointment 2 oz. * 



Linseed oil 1 pint. 



The Mercurial Ointment is prepared by rubbing quicksilver with lard, in the propor- 

 tion of one part of mercury to three of lard, until no globules appear. The practi- 

 tioner should, if possible, prepare it himself, for he can seldom get it pure or of the 

 proper strenn'tli from the druggist. It is employed with considerable advantaire in 

 preparing splents, spavins, or other bony or callous tumours, for blistering or firing. 

 One or two drachms, according to the nature and size of the swelling, may he daily 

 Avell rubbed in; but it should be watched, for it sometimes salivates the horse very 

 speedily. The tumours more readily disperse, at the application of a stronger stim- 

 ulant, when they have been thus prepared. Mercurial ointment in a weaker state is 

 sometimes necessary for the cure of mallenders and sallenders; and in very obstinate 

 cases of mange, one-eighth part of mercurial ointment may be added to the ointment 

 recommended at page 3H J, 



Calomel, the submuriate or protochloride of mercury, may be given, combined with 



* Morton's Manual of Pharmacy, p. IT."). 



