198 DICTIONARY OF THE VETERINARY ART. 



formerly used as a local remedy in glanders ; but as the dis- 

 ease is general, it could not possibly be cured by local reme- 

 dies. 



Arteries. For a description, see Circulation, part first. 



Arteriotomy. The operation of opening an artery. 



Ascites. Dropsy of the abdomen. (See Dropsy.) 



Asthma. Supposed to originate in the muscles of respi- 

 ration. (See Cough, Roaring, &c.) 



Astringents. Medicines that contract and condense 

 muscular fibre. The principal are kino, catechu, oak bark, 

 nutgalls, and bayberry bark. 



Atmosphere. The name given to an elastic invisible fluid 

 which surrounds the globe ; it is composed of oxygen, nitro- 

 gen, and a small portion of carbonic acid gas. In stables that 

 are not ventilated, the vapor arising from the dung and urine 

 combine with it, and render it unfit for respiration. 



Atlas. The first vertebra, or bone of the neck. 



Atrophy. A wasting of the body. 



Auricles. The two small cavities of the heart. (See 

 Heart.) 



B 



Backgalled. When accidents of this kind occur, the 

 saddle or harness should be padded, or chambered, so as to 

 remove pressure from the part ; sometimes they are difficult 

 to heal, owing to the presence of morbific matter in the sys- 

 tem. (For treatment, see Appendix.) 



Backraking. This is a name given by farriers to the 

 operation of introducing the hand into the fundament, and 

 emptying the rectum of its contents. The use of injections 

 will, ere long, supersede this beastly practice. The most 

 suitable injection to soften the faeces, is warm soapsuds. 



Back Sinews. The flexor tendons of the fore and hind 

 legs are so named. They are frequently strained, or other- 

 wise injured, by over exertion, or accidents. 



Ball. Bolus, or large pill. The mode of giving a ball is 

 by drawing out the tongue to the right side, and holding it 



