MEDICIJIES.] 



THE HOESE, AND 



[medicines. 



horse is strapped witli strong straps above and 

 below. The driver sits upon one of the poles, 

 and, with strong driving reins attached to the 

 horse, and a good whip, he can break in one 

 or more horses with the utmost ease. Dr. 

 Bunting's plan, in combination with that of 

 Mr. Earey, will meet every case of restiveness 

 that can enter into the perverse disposition of 

 any horse, because it combines the several 

 systems of coursing, driving, and, if necessary, 

 riding also, at one and the same time, by the 

 addition of a stable-leg in the saddle, provided 

 the leg be furnished with post-boy's leather 

 guards to protect the limbs from being crushed 

 against the poles, without the possibility of 

 danger or mischief to the animal through 

 plunging, rearing, or kicking ; since the weight 

 of the wheels, and the strength of the appa- 



ratus, will immediately exhaust his strength 

 for evil, and prevent that last resource of vice, 

 the throwing down of himself. By these 

 means any description of horse can be broken- 

 in with the utmost facility, and with much 

 greater quickness than has ever yet been at- 

 tained. The slug can be roused, the impetuous 

 restrained, and the kicker and the biter will 

 soon be convinced of the uselessness of their 

 utmost efforts. This apparatus can be made 

 to hold several 'horses at the same time. A 

 common capstan-head, to move backwards a3 

 well as forwards, will answer the purpose. 

 Dr. Bunting has found that poles, of seven 

 yards in length, are the most appropriate for 

 the machine, since longer poles would be too 

 elastic, and shorter ones would too much cir- 

 cumscribe the size of the circle." 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 



WEIGHTS, MEASURES, AND MEDICINES, EMPLOYED IN THE TREATMENT OF THE DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 

 The weights and measures used in the com- 

 pounding of medicines, are troy weight and 

 wine measure, which are divided and charac- 

 terised as shown in the subjoined tables. 



Troy Weight. 

 The Pound (lb.) contains 12 ounces 

 " Ounce ... 8 drachms 

 " Drachm ... 3 scruples 

 " Scruple . . .20 grains 



Wine Measure. 



The Gallon (longum) contains 8 pints viij 



" Pint . . .16 fluid ounces fl % xvj 



" Fluid ounce . 8 fluid drachms fl 5 viij 



" Fluid drachm . 60 minims . . w\^ Ix 



AcACiyE GuMMi — Gum-arabic. 



Gum is a thick, transparent, tasteless fluid, 

 which exudes from certain species of trees, and 

 is adhesive, and gradually hardens without 

 losing its transparency. It is chiefly obtained 

 from different species of the mimosa, particu- 

 346 



larly M. Nilotica, a native of Egypt and Arabia, 

 whence it takes the name of gum-arabic. Its 

 specific gravity is about 1-4. It is not changed 

 by exposure to the air, but is deprived of its 

 colour by the action of the sun. By heat ifc 

 becomes soft, and is speedily reduced to the 

 state of charcoal, which enters largely into its 

 composition. Its constituent parts are carbon, 

 hydrogen, and oxygen, with smaller proportions 

 of nitrogen and lime. The oxygen is much 

 less in quantity than the saccharine matter. ' 



Gum readily dissolves in water ; and the so- 

 lution, which is thick and adhesive, is known 

 by the name of mucilage. It is soluble also 

 iu the vegetable acids. Sulphuric acid decom- 

 poses it, and converts it into water, acetic acid^ 

 and charcoal. With the assistance of heat, 

 muriatic acid and nitric acid produce a similar 

 cflect. It is insoluble iu alcohol and ether. 

 Such are the chief properties of gum-arabic, 

 which is gathered in July and August. 



Medicinal Uses. — Mucilaginous, chiefly used 

 to form a vesicle for the exhibition of active 



