MEDICINE. 417 



Tonics are valuable medicines when judiciously employed; but, like cordials, they 

 have been fatally abused. Many a horse recovering from severe disease has been 

 destroyed by their too early, or too free use. The veterinary surgeon occasionally 

 administers them injuriously, in his anxiety to gratify the impatience of his employer. 

 The mild vegetable tonics, chamomile, gentian, and ginger, and, perhaps, the carbonate 

 of iron, may sometimes be given with benefit, and may hasten the perfect recovery of 

 the patient ; but there are few principles more truly founded on reason and experience, 

 than, tliat disease once removed, the powers of nature are sufficient to re-establish 

 health. Against the more powerful mineral tonics, except for the particular purposes 

 that have been pointed out under the proper heads, the horse proprietor and the vete- 

 rinarian should be on his guard. 



Turpentine. — The common liquid turpentine has been described as one of the best 

 diuretics, in doses of half an ounce, and made into a ball with linseed meal and pow- 

 dered ginger. It is added to tlie calamine or any other mild o.ntment in order to render 

 it stimulating and digestive, and, from its adhesiveness and slight stimulating power 

 it is an ingredient in mange ointments. The oil of turpentine is an excellent antispas- 

 modic. For the removal of cholic it stands unrivalled. Forming a tincture with 

 cantharides, it is the basis of the sweating blister for old strains and swellings. As a 

 blister it is far inferior to the common ointment. As a stimulant frequently appUed it 

 must be sufficiently lowered, or it may blemish. 



Wax. — The yellow wax is used in charges and some plasters to render them less 

 brittle. 



Zinc. — The impure carbonate of zinc, under the name of Calamine Powder, is used 

 in the preparation of a valuable healing ointment, called Turner's Cerate. Five parts 

 of lard and one of resin are melted together, and when these begin to get cool, two 

 parts of the calamine, reduced to an impalpable powder, are stirred in. If the wound 

 is not healthy, a small quantity of common turpentine may be added. This salve 

 justly deserves the name which it has gained, "The Healing Ointment." The 

 calamine is sometimes sprinkled with advantage on cracked heels and superficial 

 sores. 



The sulphate of zinc. White Vitriol, in the proportion of three grains to an ounce 

 of water, is an excellent application in ophthalmia, when the inflammatory stage is 

 passing over; and quitter is most successfully treated by a saturated solution of white 

 vitriol being injected into the sinuses. A solution of white vitriol of less strength 

 forms a wash for grease that is occasionally useful, when the alum or blue vitriol does 

 not appear to succeed. 



ZiNGiBERis Radix. — Ginger Bool. — This is an admirable stimulant and carminative. 

 It is useful in loss of appetite and flatulent cholic, while it rouses the intestinal canal 

 to its proper action. The cordial mass resorted to by the best surgeons consists ot 

 equal parts of ginger and gentian beaten into a mass with treacle. 



So 



