VETERINARY NOSTRUMS. 165 



The Veterinary Nostrums of the stableman and pro- 

 fessional horseman, are perhaps too extensive and too 

 various to require individual mention. Their use or object 

 being almost entirely confined to improving the condition 

 of the horse, but more especially to producing a sleek and 

 glossy coat. Some few stablemen, however, make great 

 pretension to veterinary knowledge, and are too ready to 

 test it on the property of their employers. This should 

 not be allowed, where good and experienced veterinary 

 surgeons can conveniently be obtained. It is poor policy 

 and worse logic ; for according to it, the barber by force of 

 circumstances can take the place of the family physician. 



Without at all referring to the treatment of diseases of 

 horses by the veterinary knowledge acquired in the stable, 

 on the box of the carriage, or back of the horse, we will 

 merely mention the means used by some of them, for the 

 purpose of fattening and smoothing the coats of horses. 



Arsenic. — AVsenic of commerce or white arsenic is by 

 the dealer considered a great favorite in the fattening of 

 horses, and it must, in truth be said, will not when given 

 in moderate doses and continued sufficiently long, fail to 

 please the giver. The dose should not exceed five grains ; 

 we have known much suffering and loss of animal life and 

 property by the use of this drug when purchased according 

 to its money value. 



Horses fed with arsenic are difficult to keep in good con- 

 dition and with a smooth coat of hair, when after a time 

 they are deprived of the drug. 



