396 THE HORSE. 



physic, and they are necessary during the operation of the phj-sic. They 

 very soon become sour, and the manger of the horse of whose diet they 

 form a principal part, should be daily and carefully cleaned out. 



When horses are weakly and much reduced, malt mashes will often 

 be palatable to them and very nutritive : but the water that is poured on 

 a malt mash should be considerably below the boiling heat, or the malt will 

 be set, or clogu'ed together. If owners were aware of the value of a malt 

 mash, it would be oftener given when the horse is rapidly getting weaker 

 from protracted disease, or wlien he is beginning to recover from a disease 

 by which he has been much reduced. The only exception to their use is in 

 cases of chest affection, in which they must not be given too early. In 

 o-rease, and in mange accompanied by much emaciation, malt mashes will 

 be peculiarly useful, and especially if they constitute a principal portion of 

 the food. 



Mercury. — The Mercurial Ointment is prepared by rubbing 

 quicksilver with lard, in the proportion of one part of mercury to three of 

 o-rease, until no globules appear ; the practitioner should, if possible, prepare 

 ?t himself, for he can neither get it pure nor of the proper strength from the 

 druggist. It is employed with considerable advantage in preparing 

 splents, spavins, or other bony or callous tumours, for blistering or firing. 

 One or two drachms, according to the nature and size of the swelling, 

 may be daily well rubbed in ; but it should be watched, for it sometimes 

 salivates the horse very speedily. The tumours more readily disperse, at 

 the application of the stronger stimulant, when they have been thus pre- 

 pared. Mercurial ointment in a more diluted form is sometimes necessary 

 for the cure of mallenders and sallenders ; and in very obstinate cases of 

 mano-e, one-eighth part of mercurial ointment may be added to the oint- 

 ment recommended at page 379. 



Calomel, the submuriate or protochloride of mercury, may be given, 

 combined with aloes, in mange, surfeit, or worms ; yet better alteratives 

 and more efficient vermifuges have been described. It is admissible 

 in some cases of chronic cough, in farcy, and in jaundice, but it is not a 

 medicine that seems to agree with the horse. Alone it has little purga- 

 tive effect, but it assists the action of other aperients. It is given in doses 

 from a scruple to a drachm, but must not be too often or too long repeated. 

 As soon as the gums become red, or the animal begins to quid or drop his 

 hay, it must be discontinued. 



Corrosive Siihlimate, the oxymuriate or bichloride of mercury, 

 combined with chlorine in a double proportion, is a useful tonic in farcy, and 

 perhaps the most to be depended upon. It should be given in doses of 

 ten grains daily, and gradually increased to a scruple, until the horse is 

 purged, or the mouth becomes sore, when it may be omitted for a few- 

 days, and resumed. Some have recommended it as a diuretic, but it is 

 too dangerous a medicine for this purpose. It is used externally in solu- 

 tion ; and in substance in quiltor, as a stimulant to foul ulcers ; and in the 

 proportion of five grains to an ounce of rectified spirit in obstinate mange 

 or to destroy vermin on the skin. It is, however, too uncertain and too 

 dangerous a medicine for the horse-proprietor to venture on its use 

 without the sanction of a veterinary surgeon. 



JEthiojU Mineral, the black sulphuret of mercury, is not often 

 used in horse practice, but it is a good alterative for obstinate surfeit or 

 foulness of ihe skin, in doses of three drachms daily. Four drachms of 

 cream of tartar may be advantageously added to each dose. 



Mint. — If the use of an infusion or decoction of this plant, or of the oil 

 that is extracted from it, can be at any time admitted, it is as a vehicle in. 



