MEDICINES. 395 



the place in which they have been confined. One pint of the chloride 

 mixed with three gallons of water, and brushed over the walls and manger 

 and rack of the foulest stable, will completely remove all infection. All 

 horse furniture worn by a glandered or mangy animal will be effectually 

 purified in the same way. Internally administered, it seems to have no 



power. 



Liniments are oily applications of the consistence of a thick fluid, and 

 designed either to sooth an inflamed surface, or, by gently stimulating the 

 skin? to remove deeper-seated pain or inflammation. As an emollient 

 liniment, one composed of half an ounce of extract of lead and four ounces 

 of olive oil will be useful. For sprains, old swellings, or rheumatism, two 

 ounces of hartshorn, the same quantity of camphorated spirit, an ounce of 

 oil of turpentine, half an ounce of laudanum, and a drachm of oil of ori- 

 ganum, may be mixed together ; or an ounce of camphor may be dis- 

 solved in four ounces of sweet oil, to which an ounce of oil of turpen- 

 tine and a drachm of oil of origanum should be afterwards added. A 

 little powdered cantharides, or tincture of cantharides, or mustard powder, 

 will render either of these more powerful, or convert it into a liquid blister. 



Linseed. — An infusion of linseed is often used instead of water, for the 

 drink of the horse with sore-throat or catarrh. A pail containing it should 

 be slung in the stable or loose box. Thin gruel, however, is preferable ; 

 it is as bland and soothing, and it is more nutritious. Linseed meal 

 forms the best poultice for almost every purpose. 



The oil of linseed is not a certain, but always a safe purgative. It must 

 be given, however, in doses of a pint or a pint and a half. 



Lotions. — Many of the best lotions have been already described, in the 

 chapters which treat of the various diseases of the horse. 



Magnesia. — The sulphate of magnesia, or Epsom Salts, should be 

 used only in promoting the purgative effect of clysters, or, in repeated 

 doses of six or eight ounces, gently to open the bowels at the commence- 

 ment of fever. Some doubt, however, attends the latter practice ; for the 

 dose must often be thrice repeated before it will act, and then, although 

 safer than aloes, it may produce too much irritation in tlie intestinal canal, 

 especially if the fever be the precursor of inflammation of the lungs. 



Mashes constitute a very important part of horse provender, whether in 

 sickness or health. A mash given occasionally to a horse that is other- 

 wise fed on dry meat prevents him from becoming dangerously costive. 

 To the overworked and tired horse nothing is so refreshing as a warm 

 mash with his usual allowance of corn in it. The art of getting a horse 

 into apparent condition for sale, or giving him a round and plump aj)pear- 

 ance, consists principally in the frequent repetition of mashes, and from 

 their easiness of digestion and the mild nutriment which they afford, as 

 well as their laxative effect, they form the principal diet of the sick horse. 



Mashes are made by pouring boiling water on bran, and stirring it 

 well, and then covering it over until it is sufficiently cool for the horse to 

 eat. If in the heat of summer a cold mash is preferred, it should, never- 

 theless, be made with hot water, and then suffered to remain until it is 

 cold. This is not always sufficiently attended to by the groom, who is 

 not aware that the efficacy of the mash depends principally on the change 

 which is effected in the bran and the other ingredients by the boiling 

 water rendering them more easy of digestion, as well as aperient. If the 

 horse refuses the mash, a few oats may be sprinkled over it, in order to 

 tempt him to eat it ; but if it is previously designed that corn should be 

 given in the mash, it should be scalded with the bran, to soften it and 

 render it more digestible. Bran mashes are very useful preparatives for 



