478 A LIST OF THE MEDICINES USED UN 



By alteratives we understand tliose dnigs ^vllicll effect some slow 

 change in the diseased action of certain parts without interfering with 

 the food or work ; but by common consent the term seems to be confined 

 to medicines for the diseases of the circulation, or of the digestive organs, 

 or of the skin. K a horse is heavy and incapable of work from too good 

 keep, or if he is off his food from some temporary indigestion — or if he 

 has mange or grease, or cracked heels, or swelled legs, a few alteratives 

 are prescribed, and the complaint is expected to be gradually and imper- 

 ceptibly removed. For all skin affections thei-e is no better alterative than 

 that so often recommended in this treatise, consisting of black antimony, 

 nitre, and sulphur. If there is any tendency to grease, some resin may be 

 added to each ball. K the complaint is accompanied by weakness, a httle 

 gentian and ginger may be farther added, but we enter our protest against 

 the ignorant use of mercury in any form, or any of the mineral acids, oi' 

 mineral tonics, or heating spices, as alteratives. We indeed shoiild be 

 pleased if we could banish the term alterative from common usage. The 

 mode of proceeding which reason and scienoe would dictate is to ascertain 

 the nature and degree of the disease, and then the medicine which is 

 calculated to restore the healthy action of the part, or of the frame 

 generally. 



Alum is occasionally used internally in cases of super-purgation in the 

 form of alum- whey, two drachms of the powder being added to a pint of 

 hot milk ; but there are much better astringents, although this may some- 

 times succeed when others fail. If alum is added to a vegetable astringent, 

 as oak-bark, the power of both is diminished. Its principal use is external. 

 A solution of two drachms to a pint of water forms alone, or -with the 

 addition of a small quantity of white vitriol, a very useful wash for 

 cracked heels, and for grease generally ; and also for those forms of swelled 

 legs attended with exudation of moisture through the skin. Some add 

 the Goulard lotion, forgetting the chemical decomposition that takes place ; 

 the result of which is the formation of a mixture with no astringency at 

 all. 



The Burnt Alum is inferior to the common alum for the purposes men- 

 tioned, and we have better stimulants, or caustics, to apply to wounds. 



Ammonia., wliich has been termed the volatUe alkali, is given off during 

 the decomposition of animal substances, and to the injury of the horse, 

 plentifully extricated from the putrefying dung and ui'ine in badly managed 

 stables. In its pure state ammonia exists in the form of gas, but is freely 

 absorbed by water, and in this form is generally employed. Administered 

 internally, either in the form of the aromatic spirit or carbonate of am- 

 monia, it acts as a stimulant and antacid, and has been given with decided 

 benefit, when other things have failed, in flatulent colic. In the form, of 

 acetate of ammonia, it forms a valuable febrifuge medicine. As an ex- 

 tei-nal application, water of ammonia acts as good counter-irritant, in cases 

 of sore tliroat, and is also useful in dispersing indolent tumours. Another 

 preparation, the hydrochlorate of ammonia, or sal ammoniac, mixed 

 \vith dilute acetic acid, has been used as a stimulant to chronic 

 sprains. 



Anisi Semina, Anise-seed. — This seed is here mentioned principally as 

 a record of old times, when it was one of the sheet anchors of the farrier. 

 It is not yet quite discarded from his shop as a stimulant, a carminative, 

 and a cordial. 



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



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

 antimony, is a good alterative. It is given with more salphur and with 

 nitre, in varying doses, according to the disease, and the slow or rapid 



