VETERINARY MATERIA MEDICA. 625 



Cataplasms. — See Poultices. 



Cathartics. — Whatever excites the intestines to a more 

 early, a more frequent, and a more copious discharge of 

 their contents, may be termed a cathartic, or purge. If 

 this effect be intended to be produced in a shght degree 

 only, the article effecting it is termed a laxative ; which 

 see. The principal cathartic in veterinary practice is 

 aloes. Linseed oil, calomel, and neutral salts may be 

 considered as laxatives. 



Catechu. — By universal suffrage this has long been called 

 japan earth ; although it is an extract from a species of 

 Indian acacia. It is a very mild but tolerably certain 

 astringent ; and its effects are even more obvious on 

 brutes than on the human subject. It acts favourably in 

 relaxations of the urinary passages, and also in alvine 

 fluxes or diarrhoea ; in which latter cases it should be 

 given with chalk and opium, in doses of an ounce cJf each. 

 It ought not to be united with any metallic salt, particularly 

 in a diluted form ; to avoid the affinity which its tannin 

 or gaUic acid has for all metals, which such blending 

 reduces to almost inertness. Even the chalk with which 

 it is so commonly given, being an alkali, Mr. Youatt 

 thought weakened its action ; but the loss is compensated 

 by the chalk's antacid properties. By Indian practice, it 

 would appear catechu is a sedative ; for in that country 

 it is given in daily doses of two ounces, to tame 

 vicious horses. It is an astringent in the diarrhoea of 

 cattle, and appears in these animals to be more active 

 than in the horse. 



Caustics. — See Escharotics. 



Cerates are ointments of a drying, healing nature ; the 

 principal of which is calamine, or Turner's cerate. 



Chalk {Creta). — This is a carbonate of lime, commonly 

 used in a prepared state under the name oi prepared chalk. 

 It is an excellent antacid and astringent, in diarrhoea ; it 

 also proves beneficial in the scouring of calves. The dose 

 is from half an ounce to two ounces. It is occasionally 

 sprinkled over cracks also. 



Chamomile. — This vegetable is supposed to unite in an 

 admirable degree the qualities of a stomachic and febri- 

 fuge. In debility of the stomach and bowels it is a tonic, 



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