ITEDICIXES.] 



MODER-X VETEHINAIJY PRACTICE. 



ME0ICIXE8. 



in the inoiintainous parts of Gonnaiiy. It 

 should bo gathorod when tho llowora ap- 

 pf a r. 



JItJi'cinal Uses.— r\ns, like ftU tho other 

 nnivotics used by tho luiinan subject, produces 

 no such elTect in tho horso. In doses of one and 

 n-half to two drachms, repeatedly given, it will 

 produce efforts to vomit, accompanied with 

 much general irritation. 



Adei'S — Ilog^s Lard. 

 Medicinal Uses. — Emollient, and used for 

 the formation of ointment. 



AjjCOUOTr-r-Jiecti/ted Spirits. 



This spirit is sometimes given to revive a 

 horse that is sinking from extraordinary exer- 

 tion ; but it must, indeed, be an extraordinary 

 occasion when wo would recommend its use. 



Aloes Caballina — Horse Aloes are Cape 



Aloes. 



Aloe Spicata — Spiked, or Socotrine Aloes. 



Aloe Vulgaius Extractum — Common, or 



Barhadoes Aloes. 



The general nature of these three kinds of 

 aloes is nearly the same, the difierence being 

 only in the difterent proportions of the ex- 

 tracted gummy matter compared with the resin- 

 ous. The smell and taste reside principally 

 in the extracted matter as to their virtues, the 

 resin being nearly inert. 



The leaves of the plant are cut off, ex- 

 pressed, and the juice evaporated in the sun 

 till of a fit consistence, which is then put into 

 packages. 



True Socotrine aloes are very scarce. They 

 are brought to this country wrapped in skins, 

 from the island of Socotra. Such as are now 

 sold for Socotrine, is the produce of the spiked 

 aloe of the Cape of Good Hope. 



The term Caballina, applied to the Cape 

 aloes, is for the sake of distinction, although 

 it is believed that the same plant yields this, 

 and what is now sold as Socotrine, differing 

 only in quality. Cape aloes are imported in 

 chests of two to four hundred pounds' weight 

 each, enveloped in buffalo hides. The finest 

 Barbadoes are brought in gourds, or calabashes, 

 from the island of the same name, and contain 

 from twenty to fifty-six pounds each. An 

 inferior quality comes in casks. 



J/idiri/ial Vsps. — Purgative and nltcrativo; 

 tho first in doses of four to eight drachma, 

 tho latter in doses of ono to three drachms. 

 Tho efiect of Capo aloes seems equal to any of 

 the others. 



Ammonia Mxinw^— Muriate oj Ammunia, 

 Sal Ammoniac. 



A saline concrete, formed by tho union of 

 muriatic acid with ammonia. It is obtained 

 from several sources. First, found native; 

 second, prepared from camels' dung ; third, 

 which is the principal, from soot, bones, ani- 

 mal matter, known to contain the volatile 

 alkali, as horn, &c. The process is as follows. 

 The animal matter is placed in an iron cylin- 

 drical still, to which is attached a leaden re- 

 ceiver, cooled by a refrigeratory, which is its 

 cover, and contains about four inches in depth 

 of water ; heat being a])plied, distillation is al- 

 lowed to go on. The oil which rises to the 

 surface of the distilled liquor being removed, to 

 the residue — which is impure alkaline solution 

 — is added sulphuric acid, and a sulphate of 

 ammonia is formed ; to this is added common 

 salt, when a double decomposition takes place, 

 muriate of ammonia, and sulphate of soda, be- 

 ing formed through chemical agency. These 

 being in solution, the last salt is crystallised, 

 and the first sublimes into cakes. 



Medicinal Uses. — liefrigerant, applied ex- 

 ternally, dissolved in vinegar, in infiammatory 

 swellings, when cold is the required object. It 

 is now used internally, but it hardly merits a 

 notice here. 



[It may not be irrelevant to observe, that a 

 solution of any neutral salt in water, lowers the 

 temperature of it by robbing it of a portion of 

 its caloric, to liquefy the salt ; but the solution 

 will acquire a mean of temperature equal to 

 tho surrounding medium in which it is placed, 

 in the course of time, therefore it should bo 

 used as soon as made]. 



A>'tiiem:is — Camomile. 



Medicinal Uses. — This is the mildest tonic 

 in veterinary practice. It is given in doses of 

 one or two drachms, to ascertain whether tho 

 febrile stage of the disease has passed away, 

 and to suggest the administration of gentian, 

 which is a more powerful tonic, and is fre- 

 quently given to the horse. 



319 



