438 MATERIA MEDICA 



close. In general, those horses that were In pretty good condi- 

 tion at the time of their admission into the infirmary were found 

 to receive most benefit from barytes. Mr. Percival employed 

 the muriate of barytes In the dose of one drachm, which was 

 cautiously increased to three drachms ; the horse died. Another 

 case, whei'e half this quantity was used, did well. One ounce 

 and a half of the solution of muriate of barytes, gradually 

 Increased to two ounces, destroyed life in twenty-four days. A 

 similar effect was produced by half a scruple of pure barytes, 

 augmented to one scruple and a half, and administered for 

 seventeen days. The same dose, however, succeeded In two 

 other instances. In one of which the use of the medicine was per- 

 severed In for seventy-one, and In the other for thirty-two days. 

 Where the pui*e barytes was given to the extent of four scruples 

 (beginning with one), It caused death ; and when carried to the 

 extent of two drachms, the patient, a bay gelding, eight years 

 old and In good condition, died suddenly. The carbonate of 

 barytes, given from three drachms to half an ounce for sixty-four 

 days, did not affbi'd relief. However, as this was the only case 

 treated by this preparation of barytes, it can hardly be said to 

 have received a sufficient trial. It will be prudent to make trial 

 of this medicine In small doses, giving not more than half a 

 drachm of the muriate of barytes to begin with, and not in- 

 creasing the dose to more than three times that quantity. Of 

 pure barytes, from fifteen grains to one scruple may be ad- 

 ministered, and cautiously Increased to one scruple and a half. 



BASILICUM, or BASILICON, a digestive ointment, com- 

 posed of resin, bees' wax, and olive oil, of each equal parts. It 

 Is now named ointment of yellow resin. By adding to it a little 

 oil of turpentine and verdigris It may be employed as a digestive 

 for horses. See Digestives. 



BATHING. A remedy seldom employed in the diseases of 

 horses. The warm bath would probably be found useful In 

 some cases, and appears to be used in the French veterinary 

 colleges. I have been informed, that Mr. Maberly, of Spring 

 Park, Surrey, was formerly In the habit of putting his horses 

 In a warm bath whenever they returned from hunting. This, 

 although only within the reach of people of fortune, Is a very 

 excellent practice, as there is frequently congestion of some par- 

 ticular organ, as the heart, lungs, or liver, after excessive fatigue, 

 and the warm bath, by drawing the blood Into the capillaries of 

 the skin, tends to relieve the over-loaded organ, and thereby to 

 equalise the circulation. A topical bath, both warm and cold, 

 applied to the feet and le2i:s, is often of great service In lameness. 



BATH, VAPOUR. "Tiiough a vapour bath would be very 

 serviceable on many occasions, yet from the difficulty In con- 

 structing it and the expense attending It, It has not been 



