556 MATERIA MEDICA AND PHARMACOPOaiA. 



country to prescribe port wine in liberal doses, both to horses 

 and cattle. There is a great difference, however, both in the 

 quality or strength, as well as in the price, of port and the 

 French wines ; and it is not probable that the best French wines 

 are ever given to horses or cattle. The port wine of this country 

 contains a large proportion of alcohol (see Alcohol) ; no less, 

 indeed, according to Mr. Brande, in some specimens he ex- 

 amined, than 25 per cent. That is to say, taking the alcohol 

 naturally contained in the wine, or rather the quantity produced 

 by the fermentation of the juice of the grape, with the brandy 

 added to it previous to exportation, it amounts to one-fourth 

 part of alcohol, or one-half of proof spirit ; but, when the wine 

 is of sufficient age, the spirit is so intimately blended with the 

 other constituent parts, that the strength of the liquor is not 

 manifest to the taste. The French wine commonly employed 

 for horses and cattle is not stronger, perhaps, than our cider. 

 In M. Volpi's veterinary work, which I have before spoken of 

 (see Ethiop's Mineral), he directs no less than two or three 

 bottles of generous wine to be given at one dose, in a disease he 

 terms Jievre pernicieuse. With regard to wine in this country, I 

 know of no disease in which it is I'eally necessary ; as a little 

 warm beer and ginger, or diluted brandy, will effect everything 

 that can be accomplished by wine. A bottle of port has been 

 occasionally given with good effect after severe exhaustion from 

 hunting. 



WINTER'S ^KRl^.— Winter(B Aromaticce Cortex. The 

 tree from which this bark is obtained is a large evergreen, a 

 native of the straits of Magellan. The bark has an aromatic 

 odour, and a hot spicy taste. It is a pleasant stimulant ; and, 

 though not commonly used in veterinary practice, may be given 

 with good effect in cases of indigestion and weakness of stomach. 



The dose from thi*ee drachms to one ounce every morning. 



WOLF'S BANE, or ACONITE. —Aconitum. A danger- 

 ous medicine in the horse, and never employed, its effect having 

 been ascertained upon glandered horses. See Remarks on 

 Flour of Sulphur and Aconitum. 



YYi AST.— CerevisicB Fermentum. Yeast may be used to 

 form a poultice with linseed- meal for the purpose of correcting 

 the offensive discharge from foul ulcers. 



YEW TREE. The leaves of this tree are poisonous to 

 horses and cattle. See Poisons, Vegetable. 



ZINC. — ~ Ziiicum. A metallic substance, or rather a semi- 

 metal, the oxide of which is named Floicers of Zinc (which see). 

 It affords other medicinal preparations, the most useful of which 

 is sulphate of zinc, or white vitriol. This is employed in making 

 astringent lotions and eye-waters, and is sometimes given inter- 

 nally as a tonic. See Eye-water, Astringents, Tonics, and 

 Flowers of Zinc. 



