VETERINARY MATERIA MEDICA. • 637 



Grains of Paradise are warm spicy seeds ; and are given 

 by gi'ooms to promote a fine coat. In this way they 

 often do mischief; but as an addition to other stomachics, 

 when necessary, they may be still properly made use of.^ 

 Gruel is an article of no small consequence in the veteri- 

 nary materia medica, inasmuch as it is bland, mild, and 

 diluting. In making it, care should be had to its inten- 

 tion : if as a cordial or for nutriment, it ought to be 

 thick ; if as a diluent, it cannot be too thin : it should 

 likewise, when made, be perfectly clean, and free from 

 smoke. Ignorant servants are apt to think any thing 

 sufficiently clean for a brute, without being aware that 

 the most delicate female is not half so susceptible to 

 unpleasant sensations from dirt as is the horse ; and if 

 he once has gruel offered to him that has been smoked, 

 it is only by force that he will ever after take any. A 

 useful diluent is also made from bran, by pouring boiling 

 water on it, when it is called bran tea ; but it should be 

 strained when cold, particularly when offered to horses 

 in catarrh. 

 Gum Resins are compounded of gum and resin. Gum 

 ammoniacum is sometimes used in chronic cough. Gum 

 guaiacum is now employed in farcy. Gum myrrh has 

 outlived the reputation of all others ; but it is question- 

 able whether its virtue as a cordial, in the usual accepta- 

 tion or meaning of the word, is not ideal; but as a per- 

 manent tonic it ranks higher. 

 Hartshorn, Spirit of {Aqua carhonatis ammonia). See 



Carbonate of Ammonia. 

 Hellebore, white {Veratrum album). This active vege- 

 table is variously estimated : Mr. Percivall cherishes it 

 as a valuable sedative and active nauseant, given in doses 

 of a scruple or half a drachm, every four, six, or eight 

 hours. Mr. Youatt also praised it much for moderating 

 active internal inflammation. We also have used it with 

 very beneficial effects; but in verification of the old 

 proverb, that doctors will differ, we are told that Mr. 

 Sewell held it in slight estimation ; it has, however, crept 

 into pretty general practice. As the horse was not in- 

 tended to vomit, so it is exceedingly difficult to excite 

 nausea in him. Aloes have been used for that purpose, 



