498 POISONS. 



ill mange ointments. The oil of turpentine is an excellent antispasmodic. 

 Forming a tincture with cantharides, it is the basis of the sweating blister 

 for old sprains and swellings. As a blister it is far inferior to the common 

 ointment. As a stimulant frequently applied, it must be sufficiently 

 lowered, or it may blemish. 



Wax. — The yellow wax is used in charges and some plasters, to render 

 them less brittle. 



Zinc. — The impure carbonate of zinc, under the name of Calamine 

 Poivder, is used in the preparation of a valuable healing ointment, called 

 Turner's Cerate. Five parts of lard and one of resin are melted together, 

 and when these begin to get cool, two pai'ts of the calamine, reduced to an 

 impalpable powder, are stirred in. If the wound is not healthy, a small 

 quantity of common turpentine may be added. This salve justly deserves 

 the name which it has gained, ' The Healing Ointment.' The calamine 

 is sometimes sprinkled with advantage on cracked heels and superficial 

 sores. 



The sulphate of zinc. White Vitriol, in the proportion of three grains 

 to an ounce of water, is an excellent application in ophthalmia, when the 

 inflammatoiy stage is passing over ; and quittor is most successfully 

 treated by a saturated solution of white vitriol being injected into the 

 Binuses. A solution of white vitriol of less strength forms a wash for 

 grease that is occasionally useful, when the alum or blue vitriol does not 

 appear to succeed. 



ZiNGiBERis Radix, — Ginger Boot. — This is an admirable stimulant and 

 carminative. It is useful in loss of appetite and flatulent colic, while it 

 rouses the intestinal canal to its proper action. The cordial mass resorted 

 to by the best surgeons consists of equal parts of ginger and gentia,n 

 beaten into a mass with treacle. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



roisoNS. 



The poisons by which the horse may be affected are divided into three 

 classes, viz. animal, vegetable, and mineral. The virulent effects of 

 animal poisons, such as the bite of venomous reptiles, are frequently ob- 

 served in hot climates, Jaut rarely in this country. The vegetable poison 

 is generally the result of the animal partaking of it in connection with liis 

 food. As a rule, certain characters are possessed by these poisonous plants, 

 which, assisted by a peculiar instinct on the part of the animal, causes 

 him to avoid them. But it not unfrequently happens, partly from the 

 artificial state in which the animal is kept and the long- continued allow- 

 ance of dry food, that the keener instincts of his nature become altered, 

 and as soon as he is turned out to grass or the opportunity presents itself, 

 he eagerly devours almost any green succulent plant that comes in his way, 

 and thus produces injurious and often fatal results. The poisonous effects 

 of the third division or mineral poisons, is usually caused either by their 

 wilful administration or by an overdose when given as a medicinal agent. 



We cannot do better than abbreviate the list of poisonous agents, and 

 the means of averting their fatal influence, given by Professor Morton. It 

 will occasionally be exceedingly useful to the proprietor of horses. 



He begins ^^^th the Animal Poisons. The bite of the viper has" been 

 occasionall}' fatal to dogs and sheei?. A horse was brought to the Yeteri- 



