S88 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



are three minerals of great service in medicatiou, whose ju- 

 dicious employment may be especially recommended. These 

 are oxide of iron, calomel, and nitrate of potassium. 



Corrosive Sublimate. — This is a direful poison, of fearfully 

 destructive effects when introduced into the stomach ; but 

 though so deadly a potion, it forms, with other ingredients, 

 one of the most valuable liniments in the world. It is the 

 most powerful principle of the corrosive liniment, so often 

 recommended in the previous chapters of this work. 



Acids. — ITone of these constitute a suitable medicine for 

 the horse. They are the acetic, cUric, muriatic, sulphuric, 

 nitric, tartaric, oxalic, and prussic — all of which are to be 

 rejected as injurious, and some of them as most swift and 

 deadly poisons. 



Alkalies. — Alkalies and their salts may all be used at times 

 with decided advantage as correctors of an acid condition 

 of the stomach, or as mild and safe diuretics. In this list 

 of remedies, the nitrate of potassa (the niter, or saltpeter, of ^ 

 every-day life) stands high as a mild diuretic. It should be 

 given only in small doses, and never except in clear cases of 

 urinary disease. Common wood ashes is of exceeding value 

 to the horse, %nd, when he is in the stable, they should be 

 given him as regularly as his salt, but in moderate quantities, 

 of course. The tendency in the stomach of the horse is 

 toward acidity and fermentation. Acids aggravate this con- 

 dition, and ruin the horse; alkalies correct the former, and 

 relieve the animal. 



Creosote. — Given in large quantities, this is poisonous to the 

 horse ; but in doses of ten drops, in some warm water, it is 

 very serviceable in both cramp and flatulent colic. 



Tobacco. — "The weed" is a poison, although many men 

 seem never to suspect the fact. It is not to be used in- 



