620 VETERINARY MATERIA MEDICA. 



a warm terebinthinated stimulant. There are balsams of 

 Canada ; of Copaiva ; of Gilead ; of Peru ; and of Tolu. 

 What is called balsam of sulphur is merely a compound 

 preparation of sulphur in oil. 

 Barbadoes Tar. — See Tar. 



Bark. — Several of the barks enter into the veterinarian's 

 list of medicaments, and all act by an astringent property 

 on the animal fibre. Peruvian bark stands foremost in 

 reputation ; but as horses are little subject to intermit- 

 tent fevers, we can therefore dispense with it. The elm 

 and the oak barks, particularly the last, may be used in 

 cases of debility, with advantage. Cascarilla bark proves 

 also a valuable stomachic tonic. 

 Barytes {Murias Barytas) has been tried with some benefit 

 in glanders. It is, however, a very powerful medica- 

 ment, and few glandered horses are able to bear the 

 quantity requisite for the cure. 

 Basilicon {Ceratum resincB) . A useful digestive ointment. 

 Beans, in a medical point of view, are sometimes used as a 



tonic, and the flour of them as an astringent. 

 Belladonna {nightshade) . An excellent sedative. Its spe- 

 cific action, however, appears to be expended upon the 

 throat. It is largely used in affections of the lungs, and 

 in all diseases where sore throat is a prominent symp- 

 tom. Its full effect is shown by loss of appetite. 

 Blisters. — The action of blisters, and the cases in which 

 they are properly applied, are detailed under opera- 

 tions. The substances used for this purpose are various ; 

 the most important is the cantharides, or Spanish fly' 

 whose action is so certain and mild, that, as a simple 

 vesicatory, every other article is very inferior. In acute 

 inflammatory disease it is, however, too slow in its effects 

 to be of any benefit ; wherefore the application of liquor 

 ammonia is recommended. Euphorbium, which is the 

 general substance introduced as a substitute for a portion 

 of these flies, is sufficiently active ; but it irritates, and 

 therefore ought never to be employed in these cases. 

 However, in common blistering for strains, &c., where 

 the expense of cantharides is objected to, auxiliary vesi- 

 catories may be admitted, among which the tincture of 

 croton is now used. 



