AND PHARMACOPCEIA. 411 



with old brandy. I have been assured by a veterinary suro-eon, 

 that he once cured a horse of gripes by a dose of hot water ; and 

 it is by no means unlikely that a warm infusion of some of our 

 medicinal herbs — such as peppermint, pennyroyal, rosemary, &c. 

 — would be found effectual, especiallj^ if a glass of gin were added 

 to it. 1 have experienced the good effect of giving a horse a 

 little brandy and water when fatigued, and off his feed during a 

 journey ; it generally restores the appetite, and enables him to 

 finish his journey with comfort. 



ALE. See Beer. 



ALKALIES. Alkalies form one of the classes of saline 

 bodies, and are of three kinds: 1st, The, vegetable crZAaZz, kali, 

 or potasli ; 2d, The mineral alkali, soda, or natron ; and the 

 volatile alkali, or ammonia. Each of these will be described 

 under the following heads, 'potash, soda, and ammonia ; which 

 names are employed by the London College of Physicians. 

 Alkalies are distinguished by their changing blue vegetable 

 colours to a green, and yellow to orange ; by combining rapidly 

 with acids, and forming with them neutral salts (see Acids); 

 and by rendering oils miscible with water. (See Emulsions and 

 Soap.) The vegetable and mineral alkalies, from not being 

 evaporable, exce])t in a high degree of heat, were termed j^aW; 

 and ammonia, being evaporable in a low temperature, obtained 

 the name of volatile alkali. 



ALCANET HOOT. — Anchusa Radix. Tlie best species 

 of this root is imported from France. It is used for imparting a 

 beautiful red colour to oils, ointments, and plasters, and to pre- 

 parations of alcohol and ether. 



ALLSPICE. — Pimenta Baccce. Jamaica pepper, a ^^ower- 

 ful cordial and carminative ; the dose from 2 to 3 or 4 drachms. 

 Mr. Bracy Clark, in a book he has published on flatulent or 

 spasmodic colic, or gripes, strongly recommends a tincture of 

 allspice in proof spirit, as an effectual or sovereign remedy for 

 that disorder. The dose about 4 to 6 oz. in water. 



ALOES. — Aloe. This is the inspissated juice of certain 

 plants of the same name, and the most effectual purgative for 

 horses we are acquainted with. It is of an intensely bitter taste, 

 and of a strong unpleasant odour. 



The different sorts of aloes are distinguished by the names of 

 the plav.es whence they are brought. 



SocoTRiNE Aloes* is brought fi-om the island of Socotra, in 

 the Indian Ocean, and is supposed to be more safe in its opera- 

 tion than the other kinds. It is of a dark reddish or yellowish- 



* The Socotrine aloes, Mr. Morton states, is no longer to be met with in 

 the market. It was an extract from the same aloes as the Cape, — viz. the 

 spiked aloe. — Ep. 



