AND THAEMACOPCETA. 423 



tity, or in proportion to the animal's labour, is essentially ne- 

 cessary, in order to eradicate worms from his bowels, and 

 restore him to a state of health and good working condition. 

 See Worms. 



ANTIMONY. — Antimonium. This Is a heavy, shining, 

 brittle mineral, somewhat like black lead when powdered, but 

 of a darker colour. It Is common In Germany and France. A 

 small quantity is found In Cornwall, but not sufficiently pure for 

 medicinal purposes. 



It Is given as an alterative, in doses of 2 drachms to an ounce, 

 to Improve the coat and condition of horses : some give it to 

 destroy worms ; but it does not appear to possess much power 

 of that kind. A variety of useful preparations Is made from 

 antimony, many of which are more efficacious than the mineral 

 itself : among these are antimonial poicder, which is said to be 

 the same as James's poicder, emetic tartar (tartarised antimony), 

 kermes mineral, or precipitated sidpliuret of antimony, oxide of 

 antimony, S,-c. The most useful preparations are the tartarised 

 antimony, commonly named emetic tartar (see Emetic Tar- 

 tar), antimonial powder, and the sulphuret, or common anti- 

 mony, such as is sold under the name of antimony ; but this 

 should be finely jDowdered or levigated, or prepared In the way 

 clialk is. When antimony Is thus brought to an Impalpable 

 powder, a smaller dose will be sufficient, and Its effects will be 

 much more certain. To these may be added the precipitated 

 sulphuret of antimony, though it Is seldom employed, except as 

 an alterative. As a fever medicine tartarised antimony and 

 antimonial powder* are certainly preferable to every other pre- 

 paration, and are those most commonly employed. There Is 

 another fluid preparation which is often employed as a caustic, 

 formerly named butti/r of antimony, but now muriate of anti- 

 mony. The dose of tartarised antimony is from one to two 

 drachms ; and, though a powerful emetic in the human stomach, 

 does not appear to excite nausea in the horse ; but given hirgely 

 is more apt to affect the kidneys or bowels. It is considered 

 by veterinary practitioners, as a safe and effectual fever medi- 

 cine. The common dose is about 1^ or 2 drachms. Some 

 practitioners, however, prefer the antimonial powder, as being 

 milder and more effectual; but I believe they are both per- 

 fectly Minocent in the dose commonly employed;^ and joined 

 with nitre certainly produce a good effect as an auxiliary to that 

 important remedy, bleeding. (See Febrifuges, or Fever 

 Medicines.) Both tartarised antimony and antimonial powder 

 are occasionally joined with camphor as a fever medicine, and 



* Antimonial powder is now rarely used in the horse, being considered ineffec- 

 tual. It is, however, found useful in the dog, particularly in distemper.— Ed. 



JE E 4 



