270 DICTIONARY OF THE VETERINARY ART. 



vein, the animal lived twenty-five minutes. When injected 

 into the bladder, it required a larger quantity to destroy life. 



Again : one drop of the oil of tobacco applied on the 

 tongue of a rabbit killed him instantly ; one drop applied to 

 the same organ of a cat, threw her into convulsions ; two 

 drops placed on the tongue of a squirrel killed it instantly. 

 Hence it does not require much penetration in order to 

 decide what is, and what is not, poison. Animals often get, 

 apparently, well, although large quantities of the above 

 poisons have been given. This is no proof that the poisons 

 cured them. In the early stage of disease, the constitution 

 can bear more violence — bloodletting and poisoning — than 

 when it becomes debilitated. This explains the reason why 

 large quantities of opium may be given to a horse at a certain 

 time, without any perceptible effect ; at another time, one half 

 the quantity will destroy him. 



Poll-Evil. An obstinate disease, which often happens to 

 horses. It generally proceeds from a blow received upon the 

 poll or back part of the head. (See Appendix.) 



Porta. The name of the great vein of the liver. 



Poultice, or Cataplasm. The emollient poultice may be 

 composed of equal parts of slippery elm and flaxseed. The 

 intentions to be answered by poultices are relaxation and 

 stimulation. To relax a part, add to the above emollient 

 lobelia ; when it is necessary to stimulate, use cayenne. 

 Poultices that are designed for foul ulcers, in addition to the 

 above articles, should contain at least one third powdered char- 

 coal. (See Appendix.) 



Prevention of Disease. It is an old, but true, saying, 

 that prevention is better than cure ; and we may safely add, 

 less expensive. 



Pricks, or Pricking. In shoeing a horse, the nail is some- 

 times driven in a wrong direction, and the sensible parts are 

 wounded : he is then said to be pricked. When a horse has 

 been slightly pricked, and the nail immediately withdrawn, it 

 may not be followed by lameness ; but when the wound is 

 considerable, matter will form : if the matter is not let out by 



