392 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



POISONS OP THE SKIN. 



Corrosive Sublimate. — This is a very active, irritant poison, 

 and is not to be tampered with, except as its use is indicated 

 in this work. With certain other ingredients, enumerated 

 in the proper section of Chapter XXIV, it forms the invalu- 

 able corrosive liniment. 



May-apple Root. — This is a poison to the horse, and when 

 given internally is one of the most drastic of medicines, after 

 occasioning severe and almost uncontrollable purging. In 

 this manner it should not be employed at all. As a liniment, 

 however, prepared by combining lard with it, it possesses 

 properties for curing fistula and poll-evil superior to any 

 other known remedy. The uncombined extract is a ver}'^ 

 active* poison to, the flesh of the horse, and must never be 

 used. • 



Poison Oaky or Running Sumach.— The creeping plant 

 known by this name is most frequently found climbing old 

 stumps of trees, piles of stones, and the like. Although the 

 horse will eat this only occasionally, it often poisons his nose 

 and ears, and sometimes his feet, when they happen to come 

 into contact with it in grazing. It causes dreadful blister* 

 and scabby eruptions. 



The treatment is as follows : Wash with the tea of golden 

 seal three or four times during the day, and at night rub in 

 some old grease over the poisonous surface. In the morning 

 wash off the grease with warm soap-suds, and apply the de- 

 coction of golden seal again. Continue this course as long 

 as may be necessary -to heal. 



There are several other poisonous plants and vines com- 

 mon in various parts of the country, such as the meadow ivy, 

 the poison vine, the hemlock, the " sneeze- weed " of the South, 

 and some others. The weed last named is a great pest of 

 the pastures and woods of many portions of Middle Tennes- 



