488 MATERIA MEDICA 



sicicl, Oil powdered nlfre, are said to be very cfFectual in destroy- 

 ing human contagion ; how far it may be serviceable in vete- 

 rinary practice remains to be ascertained ; but, as the fevei's of 

 horses do not appear to be infectious, there is no great proba- 

 bility of its proving useful. The term fumigation is applied, by 

 French veterinary writers, to the vapour arising from boiled 

 herbs, or bran and hot water. 



[Mr. Read has invented some ingenious apparatus, by which 

 a simple or medicated fumigation may be conveniently applied 

 to the nostrils. (See p. 127.) — Ed.] 



GALBANUM. — Galbanum. This plant is a native of 

 Syria and some parts of Africa, and affords a gum-resin, similar 

 in its medicinal qualities to ammoniacum ; that is to say, anti- 

 spasmodic, deobstruent, and expectorant. It is, however, in- 

 ferior to the latter medicine in efficacy, and may be said to hold 

 a middle place between it and assafoetida. The dose is about 

 three drachms. 



GALLS. — Galla. An excrescence from the oak tree, pro- 

 duced by the puncture of an insect. Galls are powerfully 

 astringent, but not often employed internally ; they may, how- 

 ever, prove useful, in conjunction with other remedies, in sup- 

 pressing obstinate diarrhoea. 



The dose, from two drachms to four. 



GALVANISM. It has been discovered within these few 

 years that an effect somewhat like electricity may be produced 

 on the body by means of different metals and an acid liquor ; 

 and that a short time after death, the muscles may be excited 

 to action by the same means, producing the most curious phe- 

 nomena. From the name of its discoverer, Galvani, it is termed 

 Galvanism. It has lately been employed for the cure of certain 

 diseases, and, it is said, with considerable success ; therefore it 

 may be worth a trial in those disorders of the horse for which at 

 present we have no remedy ; such as gutta-serena, and other 

 diseases of the eye. 



GAIMBOGE. — Gamhofjia. The tree from which this gum 

 is obtained is a native of Siam and Ceylon. Gamboge is per- 

 fectly inodorous, and has an insipid taste. In man it acts as a 

 violent cathartic, often producing nausea and vomiting ; but it is 

 very rarely used for veterinary purposes, as its effects are un- 

 certain, and it is liable to produce griping. 



The dose is from two drachms to half an ounce ; or two 

 drachms of gamboge may be combined with three of aloes. 



GARLIC. — Allium. This is often employed by farriers as 

 a remedy for coughs and thickness of wind ; and I believe that 

 in coughs of the chronic kind it has sometimes been found 

 efficacious. 



The dose is from one to two ounces. 



