492 A LIST OF THE MEDICINES USED IN 



If in the lieat of summer a cold mash is preferred, it should, nevertheless, 

 be made with hot water, and then suffered to remain until it is cold. This 

 is not always sufficiently attended to by the groom, who is not aware tLat 

 the efficacy of the mash depends principally on the change which is effected 

 in the bran and the other ingi'edients by the boiling water rendering them 

 more easy of digestion, as well as more aperient. If the horse refuses the 

 mash, a few oats may be spriixkled over it, in order to tempt him to eat it; 

 but if it is previously designed that com should be given in the mash, it 

 should be scalded with the bran, in order to soften it and render it more 

 digestible. Bran mashes are very necessary preparatives for physic, and 

 they are given during its operation. They very soon become sour, and 

 the manger of the horse of whose diet they form a principal part should 

 be daily and carefully cleaned out. 



When horses are weakly and much reduced, malt mashes will often be 

 very palatable to them and very nutritive : but the water that is poured 

 on a malt mash should be considerably below the boihng heat, otherwise 

 the malt will be set, or clogged together. If the owner was aware of the 

 value of a m.alt mash, it would be offcener given when the horse is rapidly 

 getting weaker from protracted disease, or when he is beginning to re- 

 cover from a disease by which he has been much reduced. The only 

 exception to their use is in cases of chest affection, in which they must 

 not be given too early. In grease, and in mange accompanied by much 

 emaciation, malt mashes will be peculiarly usefiil, especially if they con- 

 stitute a principal portion of the food. 



Mustard, Sinapis. — This will be found occasionally useful, if, in in- 

 flammation of the throat, chest, or bowels, it is well rubbed on the throat, 

 chest, or the abdomen. The external swelhng and irritation which it 

 excites may, to a greater or less degree, abate the inflammation within. 



Mtreh may be used in the form of tincture, or it may be united to the 

 tincture of aloes as a stimulating and digestive appHcation to wounds. 

 Diluted with an equal quantity of water, it is a good apphcation for canker 

 in the mouth, but as an internal medicine, it seems to be inert, although 

 Kome practitioners advocate its use, combined with opium, in cases of 

 chronic cough. 



Nitric Ether, Spirit op, — is obtained from the distillation of a mixture 

 of rectified spirit and nitric acid. It is a colourless liquid, very volatile, 

 with a pecuhar odour and somewhat acid taste. As a medicinal agent, it 

 is one of the most valuable diffusible stimulants we possess ; it also acts as 

 a diaphoretic and mild diuretic. It is a useful remedy in the early stages 

 of influenza and catarrh, and also in those cases of congestion of important 

 organs such as the lungs, the result of sudden exposure or exhausting 

 work. Given in combination with tincture of opium, it forms an excellent 

 draught for spasmodic cohc. It is also a very useful medicine in the 

 advanced stages of fever, for while it, to a certain degree, rouses the ex- 

 hausted powers of the animal, and may be denominated a stimulant, it 

 never brings back the dangerous febrile action which was subsiding. It 

 is given in doses of half an ounce to two ounces. 



Olive Oil is an emollient and demulcent. Its laxative effect is very 

 inconsiderable and uncertain in the horse. 



Opiitm. — This consists of the inspissated juice of the papaver somniferum, 

 or white poppy. It is obtained by maldng incisions into the unripe cap- 

 Bule of the poppy and scraping oft' the juice Avhich exhales, and drying it 

 in the sun. The best kind of opium is brought to this country in chests 

 from Turkey and India. Good opium should be of a blackish-brown colour 

 externally and reddish-bro\vn internally, with a powerful narcotic odour, 

 and a strong and permanently bitter taste. However underrated by some. 



