MEDICINES. 389 



ounces of prepared or powdered chalk being well mixed with or suspended 

 in it, with two scruples or a drachm of powdered opium. 



No oil should enter into the composition of a clyster, except that linseed 

 oil may be used for the expulsion of the ascarides, or needle-worms. 



In epidemic catarrh, when the horse sometimes obstinately refuses to 

 eat or to drink, his strength may be supported by nourishing clysters ; but 

 they should consist of thick gruel only, and not more than a quart should 

 be administered at once, for a greater quantity would be returned soon 

 after the pipe is withdrawn. Strong broths, and more particularly ale and 

 wine, are dangerous ingredients ; they may rapidly aggravate the fever, 

 and should never be administered, but under the superintendence, or by 

 the direction of a veterinary surgeon. 



The principal art of administering a clyster consists in not frightenmg 

 the horse. The pipe, well oiled, should be very gently introduced, and the 

 fluid not too tiastily thrown up; and its heat should be as nearly as 

 possible that of the intestine, or about 96 degrees of Fahrenheit's 

 thermometer. 



Copper. — There are two combinations of this metal used in ve- 

 terinary practice: the verdigris or subacetate, and the blue vitriol 

 or sulphate. 



Verdigris is the common rust of copper, produced by vinegar, or any 

 thing sour, or even common salt. It is given internally by some practi- 

 tioners, in doses of two or three drachms daily, as a tonic, and particularly 

 for the cure of farcy. It is, however, an uncertain and dangerous medicine. 

 The corrosive sublimate, with vegetable tonics, as recommended at page 

 130, is preferable. Verdigris is, however, usefully applied externally as 

 a mild caustic. Either alone, in the form of fine powder, or mixed with an 

 equal quantity of the sugar (superacetate) of lead, it eats down proud flesh, 

 or stimulates old ulcers to healthy action ; when boiled with honey and 

 vinegar, it constitutes the farriers' Egyptiacum, certainly of benefit in 

 cankered or ulcerated mouth, and no bad application for thrushes ; but 

 yielding, as it regards both, to better remedies, which have been mentioned 

 under the proper heads. Some practitioners use alum and oil of vitriol 

 in making their Egyptiacum, forgetting the strange decomposition which is 

 produced. 



Blue Vitriol — Is the union of sulphuric acid and copper ; it is a very 

 favourite tonic with many, and has been vaunted as a specific for glanders ; 

 while others, and we think properly, have no very good opinion of it in 

 either respect. As a cure for glanders, its reputation is now nearly passed 

 by ; as a tonic, when the horse is slowly recovering from severe illness, it is 

 dangerous, and its internal use should be confined to cases of long con- 

 tinued discharge from the nose, when catarrh or fever have ceased. It 

 may then be given with benefit in doses of from one to two drachms twice 

 in the day, but it should be combined with gentian and ginger. It is 

 principally valuable as an external application, dissolved in water in the 

 proportion of two drachms to a pint, and acts as a gentle stimulant; but 

 when an ounce is dissolved in the same quantity of water it becomes a 

 mild caustic. In the former proportion, it rouses old ulcers to a healthy 

 action, and disposes even recent wounds to heal more quickly than they 

 otherwise would do ; and in the latter it removes fungous granulations or 

 proud flesh. The blue vitriol is sometimes reduced to powder and 

 sprinkled upon the wound for this purpose, and is a good application for 

 canker in the foot. 



Cordials are useful or injurious according to the judgment with which 

 they are given. When a horse comes home thoroughly exhausted, and 



