^^^ ''^ LIST OF THE MEDICLVES USED IN 



autlior of this work was the first person ivho applied the hydrocyanic 

 acid for the pnrpose of allaying irritation of the skin in dogs. It sddom 

 fails of producing the desired effect, and it has had a simikr good effeS 

 m subduing itchiness and mange in the horse 



I-.nwT' ?,^^P^^r^^c^^; = . Sulphuric Acid. -This acid, which is famiharly 

 known by the name of oil of yitriol, is obtained in commerce by the com^ 



W^"" ^r P v' ^''^ '".^"^*' ""^ P°^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^ chambers containing 

 ^vater. Thus obtained it is an oilj-looking colom-less fluid, devoid of 

 smell, but intensely acid and powerfully corrosive. It destroys the cuticle 

 and acts as a caustic, charring both animal and vegetable substances! 

 combining with the water and setting free the carbon. In its diluted 

 state. It IS sometimes administered internally as a tonic and astringent, 

 men thus given, it should be largely diluted with water, or inflammatiou 

 of the stomach and bowels may result. This is sometimes produced by 

 the dangerous practice adopted by waggoners sprinkling this acid amongst 



ThP nf 1 f "'"'f ' "^^^ ^ ^^'^''^^"^ ^^^ °f improving his condition. 



Ihe antidotes m such a case would be magnesia, carbonate of soda or 

 potash, and large quantities of soap and water. As an external appli- 

 cation, when mixed with tar m the proportion of an ounce to the poSid 

 It has been used for thrush and canker, but both the hydrochloric and 

 nitric acids are better appHcations. 



Adeps Hog's Lard, very properly forms the basis of most of our oint- 

 T W ;. 'f t^-^steless inodorous, and free fi-om every stimulating quaHty. 

 That^c^annot be said of all the mgredients used in the composition of cm- 



Alcohol Rectified Spirit.-Iu its pure state alcohol is seldom used 

 but more frequently employed in the dOuted form of either rectified or 

 proof spmt m the preparation of tinctures. It is obtained from the fer- 

 mentation of saccharine solutions of different varieties of grain or fruit 

 and repeated distillation of the product. Internally administered its' 

 action would be stimulant and antispasmodic. Its chief value as an ex- 

 ternal apphcation consists when mixed with water, in formincr a cold 

 evaporatmg lotion, ° 



,.^P°^'-~'Sr''Q^'"^*^'' ^'''^J '''^'^ ^ ^°^'^ practice, the Barbadoes and 

 the Cape. The Socotrme, preferred by the human surgeon, are very un- 

 certam m their effect on the horse, and are seldom to be met with pure 

 Of the Barbadoes and the Cape, the first are much to be preferred Thev 

 are obtamed prmcipally from the island of Barbadoes, aid are the iuice 

 of the large leaves of the aloe boiled to a considerable thickness, and then 

 poured into gom^ds m_ which they gradually harden. The ti-ue Cape are 

 the extract of a species of aloes chiefly cultivated at the Cape of Good 

 Hope. The Barbadoes aloes are of a reddish-brown colour, with a stroncr 

 aromatic sme 1, broken with difficulty, and the fracture dull. The Cane 

 are darker colonized, very brittie, and the fracture perfectly glossy Everv 

 veterinary surgeon who uses much aloes should buy them in the mass, and 

 powder them at home, and then, by attending to this account of the 

 chfference of the two, he can scarcely be imposed upon. It is, however, 

 the iact, that these are mostly adulterated, by their being melted too-ether 

 Aloes purchased m powder are too often sadly adulterated 



ihe Barbadoes aloes have a greater purgative power than the Cape ex- 

 clusive of gripmg less and being safer. In addition to this, the actiok of 

 the bowels IS kept up longer by the Barbadoes aloes than by the Cape 

 If the horse IS well mashed, and careftilly exercised, and will drink plenty 



nua'Ii'liJir /.? S ^?^! "^'^^i^' ':?^*^"^ °^' ^^ ^* ^^^^* ^i^ed with equal 



h v«-^ n 1 Barbadoes ; but if tiiere is any neglect of preparation for 



phys.c, or during tiie usual operation of the physic, the Cape are not 



