MIDICINES.J 



MODERN VETEKINAllY PllACTICE. 



[medicikes. 



orilcr as rccoivod in Eiigliuul. The boiling 

 requires tlio utmost care and precaution, as 

 the juico takes an unpleasant smell ami llavour, 

 if burnt in the least degree. "Wo introduce it 

 bere, not on account of any value it has in 

 veterinary practice, but because, when dried 

 and ground, it is used for adding to bulk, 

 rather than for any other purpose. 

 MtJiciiial Uses. — Demulcent. 



Hydrakgyki'M — QuicAsihe) — Mercuri/. 



Mercury is a metal, which, in our climate, 

 is always lluid, but in intense cold it becomes 

 solid, and then resembles silver in appearance, 

 and is malleable. It is sometimes found na- 

 tive, but much more frequently combined with 

 sulphur, when it is denominated cinnabar. It 

 is separated from the sulphur by distillation 

 with quicklime, or iron filings. It is obtained 

 abundantly in the Austrian territories, and in 

 South America, and has a great affinity for 

 other metals. One hundred pounds of the ore 

 give about one hundred and throe pounds of 

 quicksilver. 



Mtdicinal Uses. — Only employed for making 

 mercurial preparations. 



Htdeaegtri Oxtmubiatis — Oxymuriaie of 

 Mercury — Corrosive Siihlimate. 



Take of Purified Mercury (by weight) 2 lb. 

 „ Sulphuric Acid . . . . 30 oz. 

 „ Dried Muriate of Soda . . 4 lb. 



Boil the mercury with the sulphuric acid in 

 a glass vessel, until the sulphate of mercury 

 becomes dry. Hub this, when it is cold, with 

 the muriate of soda, in an earthen mortar ; 

 then sublime in a glass, the heat being gra- 

 dually raised. 



Decomposition. — When sulphuric acid and 

 purified mercury are boiled together, a portion 

 of the acid is decomposed and separated into 

 sulphurous acid oxygen; the former being dis- 

 sipated in the gaseous state, the latter com- 

 bines with the mercury, and converts it into 

 peroxide ; and this uniting with the undecom- 

 posed acid, a super-sulphate of peroxide, or 

 bifer sulphate of mercury, is formed. To this 

 the salt is added, when another decomposition 

 takes place, as follows. 



We consider salt as a compound of chlo- 

 rate and sodium. This, when heated with the 

 bifer sulphate of mercury, is decomposed by it ; 



tho sodium is converted into Boda bv its com- 

 bination with the oxygen from tho mercury 

 which is dissolved by tho sulphuric acid, and 

 forms sulphate of soda; whilst tho chlorino 

 unites with tho mercury, and forma peroxido 

 or chloride of mercury. 



Medicinal Uses. — Caustic, applied exter- 

 nally, either mixed with grease or in solution, 

 as in tho formula, li(]uor hydrargyri oxy- 

 muriatis. 



Iodine. 

 Iodine has only recently been introduced 

 into veterinary practice, but it has now ob- 

 tained a high reputation. In the Manual of 

 Pharmacy, by Professor Morton, the different 

 combinations in which iodiue may be used 

 are described. Under the name of diniodide 

 of copper, he describes it as an admirable tonic, 

 if combined with vegteable tonics, and espe- 

 cially small doses of cantharides. This combi- 

 nation Professor Spooncr and Mr. Davis have 

 applied with decided success, to the alleviatioa 

 of farcy, glanders, and nasal gleet. 



Hydeakgyei SuBMuniA — Siihmuriate of 

 Mercury — Calomel. 



Take of Purified Mercury (by weight) 4 lb. 



Sulphuric Acid oO oz. 



Muriate of Soda 1-Wb. 



INIuriate of Ammonia . . . . 8 oz. 



Boil 21b. of the mercury with tho sulphurio 

 acid in a glass vessel, until tho mercury 

 formed is dry. AYhen this is cold, triturate it 

 with the other 21b. of mercury in an earthen 

 mortar ; then add the muriate of soda, and rub 

 them together, until globules are no longer 

 visible. Afterwards reduce the sublimed 

 matter to a very fine powder ; pass it through 

 a sieve, and mix it very carefully with the 

 muriate of ammonia, previously dissolved in a 

 gallon of boiling distilled water; set it by, that 

 the powder may subside. Pour off the solution, 

 and wash the powder frequently with boiling 

 distilled water, until solution of ammonia 

 drops, and throws down precipitate ; lastly, let 

 it be reduced to a very fine powder. 



Decomposition. — It is the same as the pre- 

 ceding article, with only this difference ; that 

 one-half of the chlorine unites with the fresh 

 portion of mercury added, so that the per or 

 bi-chloride becomes converted into chloride, or 



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