488 A LIST OF THE MEDICINES USED IN 



over tMs intractable malady. The iron sliould be given in combination 

 with gentian and ginger, but never with any alkali or nitre or soap, or 

 catechu, or astringent vegetable. Sulphate of iron may conveniently be 

 given in the water ; from one to two drachms so dissolved will be freely 

 drank by the horse. 



Fomentations open the pores of the skin and promote perspiration in 

 the part, and so abate the local swelling, and relieve pain and lessen 

 inflammation. They are often used, and with more benefit when the 

 inflammation is somewhat deeply seated than when it is superficial. The 

 effect depends upon the warmth of the water, and not on any herb that 

 may have been boiled in it. They are best applied by means of flannel 

 several times folded, frequently dipped in the hot water, or on which the 

 water is poured, and wrung dry, and the heat should be as great as the 

 hand will bear. The benefit that might be derived from them is ranch im- 

 paired by the absurd method in which the fomentations are conducted. 

 They are rarely continued long enough, and when they are removed, the 

 part is left wet and uncovered, and the coldness of evaporation succeeds 

 to the heat of fomentation. The perspiration is thus suddenly checked ; the 

 animal sufiers considerable pain, and more harm is done by the extreme 

 change of temperature than if the fomentation had not been attempted. 



Gentian stands at the head of the vegetable tonics, and is a stomachic 

 as well as a tonic. It is equally useful in chronic debiHty, and in that 

 which is consequent on severe and protracted illness. It is generally 

 united with ginger, and, when the patient will bear it, sulphate of iron. 

 Four drachms of gentian, one of sulphate of iron, and one of ginger will 

 make an excellent tonic ball. An infasion of gentian is one of the best 

 applications to putrid ulcers. 



Ginger is as valuable as a cordial as gentian is as a tonic. It is the 

 basis of the cordial ball, and it is indispensable in the tonic ball. If the 

 root is large, heavy, and not worm-eaten, the dark ginger is as good as the 

 white, and considerably cheaper. The powder is adulterated with bean- 

 meal and the sawdust of boxwood, and rendered warm and pungent by 

 means of capsicum. 



Hellebords Niger, Black Hellebore. — This is used mostly as a local 

 application, and as such it is a very powerful stimulant. Mr. E. Stanley, 

 of Birmingham, frequently resorts to it in fistulous affections of the poll 

 and withers, and with considerable success. The abscess having formed, 

 and exit being given to the imprisoned fluid, it is allowed to dischargo 

 itself, for two or three days, being dressed by an ordinary digestive oint- 

 ment. When the pus assumes a laudable character, he introduces a few 

 portions of the fibrous part of the root, passing them down to the bottom 

 of the sinus, and letting them remain for a fortnight or more ; in the mean 

 time, merely keeping the surrounding parts clean. On examination it will 

 be found that the healing process has commenced. 



Professor Morton says, that an ointment ^ormed of the powder of either 

 the black or white hellebore, in the proportion of one part of the powder 

 to eight of lard, will be found exceedingly active for the dressing of rowels 

 and setons. 



Hemlock, Conittm Maculatum, is used by some practitioners, instead 

 of digitalis or hellebore, inafiections of the chest, whether acute or chronic ; 

 but it is inferior to both. The dose of the powder of the dried leaves is 

 about a drachm. 



Hydrargyrum (Mercury) . — This metal is found native in many countries 

 in the form of minute globules. It also occurs in the form of sulphuret, from 

 which it is obtained by distillation with hme or iron. It has the singular 

 property of being liquid in the natural temperature of our earth. It 



