84 VETERIN'ARY MATERIA MEDIC A. 



of the vegetable astringents, and are used to check 

 chronic mucous discharges from the throat and ali- 

 mentary canal. Hamamelis is said to have especial 

 value in checking venous hemorrhages. 



Therapeutics. — Tannic and gallic acids are useful 

 in hematuria, albuminuria, hemorrhages from the 

 lower bowel, catarrhal affections of mucous surfaces; 

 also locall}^ to ulcers, eczema, impetigo, intertrigo, 

 and otorrhoea. Kino and catechu are very service- 

 able in diarrhoea and dysentery, and the former is ap- 

 plied locally in powder form as a styptic. Corneal 

 ulcers are successfully treated with a weak solution of 

 tannin ; also conjunctivitis after the acute symptoms 

 have yielded to other treatment. A decoction of oak 

 bark is frequently used as a stimulant, antiseptic, 

 and astringent injection to check inordinate dis- 

 charges from the genito-urinary organs. 



Argentum — Silver. 



Chief Preparation employed in veterinary prac- 

 tice is : 



Ai^genti Nitras^ nitrate of silver, lapis infernalis; 

 Argenti Nitras Fusus, lunar caustic, fused nitrate 

 of silver. Nitrate of silver — AgNOg — is found in 

 commerce as colorless, transparent, tabular, rhombic 

 crystals, becoming gray or grayish-black on exposure 

 to light in presence of organic matter ; odorless, hav- 

 ing a bitter, caustic, and strongly metallic taste and 

 neutral reaction. Soluble in 0.8 part of water and 

 in 26 parts of alcohol. It should be kept in dark-col- 



