484 A LIST OF THE MEDICINES USED IN 



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 ther- 

 mometer. 



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

 when inflammation of the eyes was treated of. 



Copaiba, Balsam of Copaiba. — The resin is obtained from a tree grow- 

 ing 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 verdigTis or subacetate, and the blue vitriol or sulphate. 



Verdigris or Subacetate of Copj^er is produced by subjecting that metal 

 to the action of acetic acid. It has been given internally by some prac- 

 titioners, 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. 

 Verdigris is, however, usefully apphed 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. When boiled with honey and vinegar, it con- 

 stitutes the farriers' Egyptiacum, certainly of benefit in cankered or ulce- 

 rated mouth, and no bad apphcation 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 wliich 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 glanders ; while others, and we think properly, 

 have no very good opinion of it. As a cure for glanders, its reputation 

 has nearly passed away. 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 have ceased. It may then be given with benefit in doses of from 

 one to two drachms twice in the day, either in the food or combined with 

 gentian and ginger. It is principally valuable as an external apphcation, 

 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 ruild 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 removes 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 usefal 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. ]\Iore to be reprobated is the practice of giving 

 freqtient cordials, that by tlieir stimulus on the stomach (the skin sympa- 

 thising 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 di'am to sustain 

 the animal spii-its 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 



