AND PHARMACOPCEIA. 421 



therefore been recommeuded, particularly the vegetable bitters ; 

 such as bark, wormwood, camomile, &c. When worms are dis- 

 covered in the horse's dung, after a fair trial has been given to 

 mercurial purgatives (especially if he appears to be weak, and 

 incapable of much work), it would be advisable to give tonic and 

 cordial preparations, with a generous diet ; but whenever this is 

 done, there must be proportionate exercise. One plan of treating 

 a horse with worms is to keep him fasting for several hours, and 

 then give him a small quantity of milk and sugar, which is to be 

 followed by a dose of the anthelmintic in a hquid form : a solu- 

 tion of common salt has been recommeuded for this purpose, to 

 which may be added two or three drachms of aloes. The dose 

 of salt is about four ounces, in three pints of water. Oil of tur- 

 pentine has of late been recommended as an anthelmintic, and 

 has, I believe, been found more efficacious than any other medi- 

 cine. The mode of giving it is to keep the horse without food 

 for several hours, and then to give four ounces mixed with a pint 

 or more of oatmeal gruel ; tlie day before, the horse is to take 

 about three drachms of aloes, Avith an equal quantity of soap, in 

 order to open the bowels moderately, and so that they may be 

 in a loose state at the time the turpentine is given. Some cau- 

 tion is necessary in adopting this method, as in two cases that 

 have come to my knowledge, the stomach appeared to have been 

 dangerously affected, and in one it produced a degree of inflam- 

 mation that proved fotal. In one of the cases the turpentine was 

 given undiluted when the stomach was empty. In the second, 

 the horse was kept fasting a long time, I believe twelve hours ; 

 in the third, which proved fatal, the purgative given the day 

 before appeared to have been too strong. I would advise, there- 

 fore, when oil of turpentine is given as an anthelmintic, that the 

 horse be prepared with bran mashes, as for physic ; that only 

 three drachms of aloes, with an equal quantity of Castile soap, 

 be given the day before the turpentine, and that when the latter 

 is given, the stomach should not be in so exhausted a state by 

 fasting as it appears to have been in one, if not all, of the above 

 cases. Perhaps a small bran mash may be given, about six or 

 seven in the morning, and the turpentine about eleven or twelve.* 

 A run at grass, in Slay or June, has been found a good remedy 

 for worms ; soiling in the stables with vetches, or tares, lucern, 

 &c. may also be tried. I have lately discovered a cause of worms 

 which is not generally, if at all, known. Since I have resided 

 near the Hill of Mendip, I have frequently met with a kind of 

 worm in the bowels of horses, dogs, and cats, which I never 



* The safest plan to administer oil of turpentine is in combination with an 

 equal or double quantity of linseed oil, which in itself is an excellent anthel- 

 mintic. — Ed. 



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