THE 



VETERINARY MATERIA MEDICA, &c. 



A WELL-GROUNDED knowledge of chemistry is necessary to 

 the proper construction of the formulee used among veteri- 

 nary surgeons ; and without it we are apt, by injudicious 

 combinations to destroy the effect of our remedies, or other- 

 wise to beget new compounds of totally different qualities 

 to those intended. An intimate acquaintance with chemical 

 affinities of substances enables a practitioner, from articles 

 apparently dissonant in properties and action, to form a 

 new compound with particular influences suited to his 

 purpose. 



The veterinarian should have a neat and well-regulated 

 dispensary : except that the matters need not be quite so 

 numerous, it should be a fac-simile of a well-arranged 

 apothecary's shop. The various articles should be inclosed 

 in drawers, pots, or bottles, according to their forms or 

 natures : each should be separate, and each should be 

 distinctly marked. Above all, it behoves him, if he wish 

 either to satisfy himself, or to do justice to the cases under 

 his care, to be most particular as to the quality of the sim- 

 ples and compounds he uses. The prudent veterinarian will 

 find it his interest to deal with a druggist of established 

 reputation, and to order only high-priced drugs, and of the 

 best quality. The only means to avoid deception is to 

 compound for himself; and to do it with genuine drugs. 

 In the formulae, and doses, the apothecaries' weights and 

 measures are always meant. 



Rr 2 



