TREATMENT OF DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 485 



draught horses, that have exhibited slight symptoms of staggers when 

 their labour has been unusually protracted and theu' stomachs left too 

 long empty ; or mixed with diuretic medicine, to fine the legs of the over- 

 worked and debilitated animal ; but in no other case should they obtain 

 a place in the stable, or be used at the discretion of the carter or the 

 gTOom. 



CoEKOSivE Sublimate. — See Mercury. 



Creosote has very lately been introduced into veterinary practice, and 

 is much valued on account of its antiseptic properties. It is obtained by 

 the destructive distillation of various substances, as pyrolig-neous acid, tar, 

 wood smoke, &c. Pure creosote is colourless and transparent ; its odour is 

 that of smoked meat, and its taste is caustic and burning. It coagTilates 

 the albumen of the blood, and hence has been lately employed in stopping 

 liEemorrhages. It acts very powerfully on the general system, and quickly 

 desti-oys small animals. Professor Morton gives a very interesting and 

 faithful account of it. It is, according to him, both a stimulant and a tonic. 

 In an undiluted state, it acts as a caustic. When diluted, it is a general 

 excitant and an antiseptic. In the form of a lotion, a liniment, or an oint- 

 ment, it has been useful in farcy and glanders, also in foot-rot, canker, and 

 thrush, — mange, caries, excessive suppui^ation, and the repression of fungous 

 granulations. As a caustic, it acts as a powerfid stimulant, and it is an 

 antiseptic. 



Ceoton Tiglii Semina, Croton Seeds. — The croton-nut has not been 

 long introduced into veterinary practice, although it has been used from 

 time immemorial by the inhabitants of India as a powerful purgative. An 

 oil has been extracted from it, and both it and the meal are adopted by 

 the veterinarian. It is given in doses from a scruple to half a drachm, 

 and, from its acrid nature, in the form of a ball, with an ounce of linseed 

 meal. When it does operate, the effect is generally observed in six or 

 eight hours, the stools being profuse and watery, and the patient frequently 

 griped. On account of its speedy operation, it may be given in locked- 

 jaw and staggers : and also in dropsy of the chest or belly, from the watery 

 and profuse stools which it produces ; but it is often uncertain in its opera- 

 tion, and its griping, and the debility which it occasions, are serious objec- 

 tions to it as common physic. The oil, when placed on the tongue of the 

 horse in quantities varying from twenty to forty drops, produces purging, 

 but the membrane of the mouth frequently becomes violently inflamed. 

 This likewise happens, but not to so great a degree, when it is given in the 

 form of a drink, or in a mash. 



Demulcents are substances that have the power of diminishing the 

 effect of acrimonious or stimulating substances. The first, by some oily or 

 mucilaginous substance, sheaths the sensitive parts. The other dilutes the 

 stimulus, and diminishes its power. It will rarely be difficult to deter- 

 miue which effect should be produced, and the means by which it is to be 

 effected. 



Diaphoretics are medicines that increase the sensible and insensible 

 ■perspiration of the animal. As it regards the horse, they are neither many 

 nor powerful. Antimony in its various forms, spirit of nitric ether, 

 sulphur, and camphor have some effect in opening the pores of the skin, 

 and exciting its vessels to action, and especially when assisted by warmth 

 of stable or clothing, and therefore are useful in those diseases in which it 

 is desii'able that some portion of the blood should be diverted from the 

 overloaded, and inflamed, and vital organs of the chest, to the skin or the 

 extremities. The only diaphoretics, however, on which much confidence 

 can be placed, and especially to produce condition, are warm clothing and 

 good grooming. 



