AND PHARMACOPCEIA. 449 



fermenting poultice, composed of oatmeal and yeast. This 

 poultice has been found serviceable in that disease of the horse's 

 heels termed grease, generally correcting the offensive smell 

 which attends it. 



CARDAMOM SEF.T>S.— Cardamo7ii Semina. The plant 

 from which these seeds are obtained is a native of India. There 

 are two sorts of cardamoms, the greater and lesser : the latter arc 

 commonly sold in their shells or pods, from which they are easily 

 freed : these are j)referred in medical practice, probably on ac- 

 count of their more grateful smell and taste, but the larger sort, 

 which are generally termed (/rains of jmradise (see Grains OF 

 Paradise), are better for vetei'inary purposes, being a stronger 

 stimulant, and much cheaper. The lesser cardamoms make an 

 excellent cordial, and are possessed of considerable strength. 

 The dose is from one to two or three drachms. 



CARMINATIVES. Medicines that correct flatulency in 

 the stomach and bowels. The disorder for which carminatives 

 are employed is nnmedjlatulejit or spasmodic colic, also gripes 

 and fret. This disease frequently happens to horses, and from 

 the nature of it not being understood, often proves fatal. We 

 constantly hear of horses dying of inflammation of the bowels, and 

 this is really the case, but the inflammation is often produced by 

 the flatulent colic. When air or wind is generated in the horse's 

 stomach it cannot escape upwards as in man, and is prevented 

 from passing in the other direction by a valvular structure at the 

 part where the small intestines terminate ; that is, in the caecum 

 or large intestines, which in the horse is very capacious. As the 

 air accumulates it distends the stomach and small intestines, and 

 if they have not sufficient energy to overcome by their contrac- 

 tile power the resistance made by this valvular structure, inflam- 

 mation takes place, and the animal dies. Ca^rminative medicines 

 increase for a short time the vital power of the stomach and small 

 intestines ; put a stop to the process by which air is generated ; 

 excite them to more vigorous contractions ; and enable them to 

 overcome the obstacle above described, and expel the confined 

 air. It is in this way that carminatives cure the flatulent colic. 

 Sometimes, however, carminatives prove ineffectual, not often 

 from a want of power in the medicine, but from a circumstance 

 that is not sufficiently attended to, that is, from an accumulation 

 of excrement in the large intestines. The carminatives usually 

 employed are by far too strong ; they often cure the disorder, 

 but always increase the tendency to it by impairing the tone of 

 the stomach. Large doses of turpentine and other essential oils 

 are injurious in this way, alsojoepper and otiier strong stimulants. 



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