AND PHARMACOPCEIA. 487 



must be carefully watched, that the effect may be seen ; for, if 

 too much be given, the stomach is sometimes materially injured. 

 The most frequent effect of foxglove is to take off the appetite : 

 and that eflect, when it has been given in a full dose, generally 

 continues two or three days ; it should, therefore, be given with 

 caution.* 



FUMIGATIONS. These consist of substances which emit 

 fumes or vapours by the application of heat or other means. 

 They are generally employed to destroy contagion ; and though 

 the fumigations recommended in books of farriery, as well as 

 those in common use, are inadequate to that purpose, yet there 

 are certainly some which may be productive of great advantage.! 

 Fumigations are employed to prevent the spreading of epidemic 

 distempers, or to destroy tlie contagion of glanders. ^ 



The foUowino; is one of the most effectual fumigations, and 

 may be used in influenza, or other infectious diseases : — 



Take of 



Common salt 8 ozs. 



Manganese powdered 6 ozs. 



Let these be well mixed, and placed in an earthen dish ; then 

 pour on the mixture, gradually, of sulphuric acid, four ounces. 

 As soon as the latter is added, the operator should leave the 

 stable, shutting both the door and windows. The fumes which 

 arise from this mixture are highly injurious to the lungs, and 

 must be carefully avoided; therefore, this fumigation can be 

 performed only in an empty stable. During the whole day the 

 stable door and windows are to be kept shut; but at night they 

 may be thrown open, that there may be no danger on entering 

 the stable next morning. I believe this to be the only efficacious 

 fumigation, having found that when glanderous matter is ex- 

 l)osed to it a short time, it is rendered perfectly harmless. The 

 fumes which are generated by pouring oil of vitriol, or vitriolic 



* The usual dose of foxglove is a scruple to a drachm once, twice, or thrice 

 a day, with tavtarized antimony and nitre. It has certainly a singular effect 

 on the pulse, rendering it at first intermittent, and then less frequent. With 

 this view it is given in inflammation of the lungs after blood-letting. It must 

 not, however, he too much relied on, or employed to the exclusion of other 

 medicinal agents. 



It has been employed in broken wind, when it has been found to tran- 

 quillise the respiration for a time. — Ed. 



f Fumigating the nostrils has been tried in glandei-s with occasional advan- 

 tage. Carbonic acid gas has been thus applied, and chlorine gas is much re- 

 commended. Mr. :?\Iorton advises it to be thus administered : " Chlorine gas 

 is to be liberated from muriatic acid by the action of peroxide of manganese 

 upon it. For this purpose a Florence flask, a stand, and lamp are all that is 

 required. As much gas Is to be disengaged into the loose box in which the 

 animal is placed as the assistant can bear to inhale ; he then retires with the 

 apparatus. Thus, the atmosphere will be sufficiently impregnated with the 

 gas, which may be repeated the next day." — Ed. 



1 I 1 



