528 MATERIA MEDIC A 



POULTICE, or CATAPLASM; of LINSEED; of 

 BEER-GROUNDS; of CAllUOT, — Cataplasma ; Lhil ; 

 CerevisicB ; Dauci. Cataplasms are useful applications for pro- 

 moting suppuration in inflamed tumours, and in those diseases 

 of the horse's heels, named grease, scratches, cracks, &c., con- 

 sisting in inflamed swellings of the heels, fetid discharge, painful 

 and troublesome ulcers, or cracks generally under the fetlock or 

 bend of the heel. The poultices commonly employed on those 

 occasions are of the emollient kind. 



EMOLLIENT POULTICE. 



No. \. Linseed meal \\h 



Bran 2 quarts. 



Hog's lard 4 ozs. 



Boiling water, enough to make a soft poultice.* 



No. 2, Turnips, thoroughly boiled and mashed; any quan- 

 tity. Linseed meal, enough to form the poultice. 



A poultice made of carrot, grated very fine, is detergent and 

 stimulating. 



Either of these simple poultices may be converted into an 

 anodyne poultice by the addition of opium ; into a fermenting 

 poultice, by the addition of yeast, and by substituting oatmeal 

 for linseed meal ; into an astringent poultice, by the addition of 

 Goulard's Extract, sugar of lead, or powdered alum ; and into 

 a detergent poultice, by the addition of white or blue vitriol. 



In obstinate cases of virulent grease, where there is much 

 pain, and a stinking dark-coloured discharge, and especially 

 when emollients arc found ineffectual, the detergent poultice has 

 quickly cured the disease ; and, in such cases, even a solution of 

 corrosive sublimate has been used with the best effect. But 

 emollients should always be first fairly tried, and some diuretic 

 medicine given. 



For poulticing the foot, a leathern boot affords the most suit- 

 able method, as a bag or a stocking will be soon worn through 

 by the edge of the crust. A stocking, however, with the foot 

 part cut off", affords a convenient mode of applying a poultice 

 to the knee or lesj. 



POWDERS. — Pulveres. These are sometimes convenient 

 forms for giving medicines, as many horses will take them in 

 their corn Avithout reluctance. It is by no means proper, how- 

 ever, for such as have a delicate appetite and are remarkably 

 nice in feeding; for although they may, after some time, eat 

 their food, yet the reluctance with which it is taken would pre- 



* The best poultice is made with linseed meal ground with the oil. It 

 keeps soft, and can be medicated as we may wish. — Ed. 



