MEDICINES. 381 



bably is not mange, but only inflammation of the skin, from too great 

 fulness of blood. A little blood should be taken away — a purgative 

 administered, and the alteratives given. The mange ointment cannot do 

 harm, and may possibly prevent this heat of the skin from degenerating 

 into mange, or stop the progress of mange, if it has commenced. If a 

 scurfiness of skin should appear on any of the points that are pressed 

 upon by the collar or harness, the veterinary surgeon will do right to 

 guard against danger, by alterative medicine and the use of the ointment. 



WARTS. 



These are tumours of variable size, arising first from the cuticle, and after- 

 wards connected with the true skin by means of the vessels which supply 

 the growth of the tumours. They are found sometimes on the eyelids, 

 on various parts of the skin, and on the prepuce. They must be removed 

 by an operation. If the root be very small, it may be snipped asunder 

 with a pair of scissars, close to the skin, and the root touched with the 

 lunar caustic. If the pedicle or stem be somewhat larger, a ligature of 

 waxed silk may be passed firmly round it, and tightened every day. The 

 source of nutriment being thus cut off, the tumour will, in a i'ew days, die 

 and drop off. If they are large, or in considerable clusters, it will be 

 necessary to cast the horse, to cut them otf close to the skin, and sear 

 the root with a red-hot iron. Unless these precautions are used, the 

 warts will speedily sprout again. 



Chapter XXII. 



A LIST OF THE MEDICINES USED IN THE TREATMENT OF THE 

 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



He will rarely consult his own interest, who, not having had the advan- 

 tage of a veterinary education, undertakes the treatment of any of the 

 serious diseases of his horses. Many of the maladies of the horse so 

 nearly resemble each other — and are so continually varying their character, 

 and require, in their different stages, so different a treatment ; and in 

 the plainest case not only the characteristic symptoms of disease are 

 obscure, but even the indications of returning health, or increasing danger, 

 often scarcely ascertainable — so that the sick horse, as well as the human 

 being, needs the care of one whom study and experience have qualified 

 for the task. A list, however, of the drugs generally used, with a 

 slight account of their history, adulterations, and medicinal efl'ects, will be 

 interesting to the horse-proprietor as well as to the veterinary surgeon ; 

 and may occasionally be useful when professional aid cannot be obtained. 



Aloes. There are two kinds used in horse practice, the Barbadoes 

 and the Cape. The Socotorine, preferred by the human surgeon, are 

 very uncertain in their effect on the horse. Of the Barbadoes and 

 the Cape, the first are much to be preferred. The Barbadoes aloes 

 are obtained principally from the island of Barbadoes, and are the juice 

 of the large leaves of the aloe boiled to a considerable thickness, and then 

 poured into gourds in which they gradually harden. The true Cape is the 

 extract of a species of aloes chiefly cultivated at the Cape of Good Hope. 

 The Socotorine aloes are of a brown colour, inclining to red, and brittle. 

 The Barbadoes aloes are black, with a shade of brown, of an unctuous 



