424 MATERIA MEDICA 



sometimes, but not often, with opium. (See SUDORIFICS.) 

 The sulphuret of antimony is inert, unless it meet with an acid 

 in the stomach. 



ANTISEPTICS are medicines which prevent putridity, or 

 remove it if ah-eady begun. The most efficacious are bark and 

 other bitters : opium, icine, ether, ammonia, and camplior. 



Horses do not appear to be subject to those fevers which, in 

 the human system, are termed putrid ; so that these medicines 

 are not required. However, as in putrid fever, it is certain that 

 the presence of very offensive fajces in the alimentary canal will 

 prove a source of great irritation to the system ; and it may also 

 here be remarked, that the urine, if retained for any consider- 

 able time, will have a similar tendency to create irritation and 

 consequent distress. Antiseptics are nothing more than cordials 

 and tonics, and are as improper for the horse as for man during 

 the febrile stage. They can only be serviceable when debility 

 remains after the symptoms of fever have vanished. The best ex- 

 ternal antiseptic is a solution of chloride of lime. 



ANTISPASMODICS are medicines Avhich possess the 

 power of allaying inordinate or painful motions in the system, 

 particularly those involuntary contractions in parts which are 

 naturally subject to the command of the will. 



Medical writers divide antispasmodics into two kinds ; viz. 

 stimulants and sedatives. To the former belong preparations of 

 copper, zinc, and iron ; also ammonia, ether, essential oils, &c. 

 The latter comprehend opium, musk, camphor. Valerian, and 

 all the vegetable narcotics. 



Medicines of the foetid kind, such as galbanum, assafostida, 

 &c., have also an antispasmodic quality. 



When spasm arises from irritation, sedatives are to be given ; 

 but when it depends merely on debility, tonics are evidently 

 proper. The spasmodic complaints to which horses are mostly 

 liable, are locked-jaw and spasmodic or flatulent colic, commonly 

 named gripes or fret, in which the most efficacious antispasmodic 

 is opium ; but it is generally joined with others, such as 

 camphor, assafoetida, ether, oil of peppermint, juniper, caraways, 

 allspice, or other aromatics. 



The spices and aromatic seeds, such as cinnamon, cloves, 

 ginger, caraways, anise-seeds, &c. are often joined with opium, 

 either in powder or infused with it in proof spirit, to form a 

 tincture, and will be found a good antispasmodic in that form. 



APERIENTS. Opening medicines. See Laxatives and 



AQUAFORTIS. Weak Nitric Acid. See Acid, Nitrous. 



ARBUTUS, UVA URSI. Whortleberry, Bearberry, or 

 Trailing Arbutus. This shrub is a native of the northern parts 

 of Europe, and is found growing in a wild state on the heaths 



