538 MATERIA MEDICA . 



much used by farriers; it appears, however, to be often nothing 

 more tlian oil of turpentine coloured with alkanet root. 



SPIRIT OF A.M:\I0NIA. — Spiritus Ammonm. See Am- 

 monia. 



SPIRIT OF MINDERERUS. — Splritus JSIindereri. See 

 Acetate of Ammonia. 



SPIRIT OF NITROUS ^TRYJX. — Spiritus Athens Ni- 

 trici. See AciD, Nitric, and Nitrous. 



SPIRITS. Brandy, rum, gin, or cordial liquors ; but in 

 medicine the word spirit is applied to alcohol, either pure or 

 diluted. See Alcohol. 



There are vai'ious kinds of spirits used in medicine ; such as 

 spirit of nutmeg, spirit of juniper, &c., which are made by distil- 

 ling the medical substance with dilute spirit. 



SQUILL, or SEA ONION. — »SW//a maritima. This 

 is a native of Sicily, Syria, Barbary, and Spain. The bulb 

 is exti'emely large, and is in one variety white, in another 

 reddish. It is inodorous, bitter, and acrid. The best prepara- 

 tion of squill for veterinary purposes is the powder of the dried 

 root, which, in the dose of one drachm or more, is considered a 

 good expectorant, and useful in chronic cough : in larger doses 

 it generally acts as a diuretic, but is not a desirable medicine 

 fur that purpose, there being many diuretics more certain in 

 their effect. Gum ammoniacum is an eligible addition to squill; 

 and I have sometimes seen camphor and opium joined to it with 

 good effect. One draclun of the dried squill is equal to about 

 five drachms in its fresh state. There are three other prepara- 

 tions of squill made, viz. the spirituous and acetous tinctures, and 

 the oxymel ; but these are not so well calculated for veterinary 

 purposes. See Expectorants. 



STARCH. — Tritlcum hyhernum. Starch glysters with 

 opium are sometimes employed in obstinate diaiTha3a or irritation 

 of the rectum. In no other way is starch useful in veterinary 

 practice, while the cheaper mucilages, such as linseed, marsh - 

 mallow, &c. can be procured ; but when these are wanting, it 

 is capable of making a good mucilaginous drink. See Emol- 

 lients and Demulcents. 



The preparation named Arroio-root is a pure starch, and when 

 made into gruel is the best and safest preparation that can be 

 employed in diarrhoea, or to restrain the effect of purging medi- 

 cine when it has been given too largely. Mixed with a watery 

 solution of opium, it forms a good anodyne glyster. 



STAVES ACRE; the seeds. — Delpldnium Staphisagria. This 

 is a species of larkspur, and is a native of the South of Europe, 

 flowerino- from June to August. The seeds of stavesacre are re- 

 commended as a topical application in cutaneous complaints, and 

 for destroying those animalcules which are sometimes generated 



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