616 



VETERINARY MATERIA MEDIC A. 



Ammoniacum. — This gum is sometimes given in old obsti- 

 nate coughs, and in farcy. 

 Anise Seed. — The powder of these seeds was formerly 

 much used by farriers ; and the druggists who make horse 

 powders find it a profitable article ; for it is adulterated 

 to one-third only of the genuine powder. It may be 

 very properly united with other warm aromatics when 

 cordials are admissible. It is also thought to possess 

 some pectoral properties ; but they are very trifling. The 

 essential oil is the most active preparation of it ; which 

 see. 

 Anodynes. — These are medicines that quiet pain. In the 

 human, they procure sleep also; but no article with 

 which we are acquainted is absolutely capable of pro- 

 ducing this effect on the horse. As mitigators of pain, 

 opium and hyoscyamus must be tried. Camphor and 

 sether will also act as antispasmodics ; but in all painful 

 affections, where relief is essential, opium in doses of 

 one or two ounces, is chiefly to be depended on ; and if 

 pain be mitigated, sleep follows of course, from the 

 fatigue of irritation. 

 Anthelmintics. — See Vermifuges. 



Antimony.— There are several medicinal preparations made 

 from the crude metal, as 



Black sulphuret of antimony (Sulphuretum antimonii) ; 

 the metal itself, being ground and levigated, in this state 

 is always compounded with sulphur; but when it is 

 to be given as an alterative, more sulphur is often added 

 to it, with nitre or other articles, according to the plea- 

 sure of the compounder : in doses of two, three, or as 

 far as four drachms, it is a good and safe alterative, daily 

 administered. It should be bought and powdered by 

 the practitioner, or he may purchase manganese and 

 forge-dust as a part of the mass. It holds within itself 

 often a portion of arsenic, to which we attribute its occa- 

 sional violence of action, particularly when given to 

 dogs : the presence of arsenic may be tried by burning 

 a little on a red-hot iron plate, when a smell of garhc 

 detects the arsenic. 



Tartarized antimony (Antimonium tartarizatum). 



