398 THE HORSE. 



fraudulently increased by stones and bits of lead being concealed in it. 

 The English opium is almost as good as the Turkish, and frequently sold 

 for it; but is distinguishable by its blackness and softness. 



Palm Oil, when genuine, is the very best substance that can be used 

 for making masses and balls. It has a pleasant smell, and it never 

 becomes rancid. 



Pitch is used to give adhesiveness and firmness to charges and plasters. 

 The common pitch is quite as good as the more expensive Burgundy 

 pitch. The best plaster for sandcrack consists of one pound of pitch and 

 an ounce of yellow bees-wax melted together. 



Physic. — The cases which require physic, the composition of the most 

 effectual and safest physic ball, and the mode of treatment under physic, 

 have been already described at page 211. 



Potash. — Two compounds of potash are used in veterinary practice. 

 The Nitrate of Potash, Nitre, is a valuable cooling medicine, and a mild 

 diuretic, and, therefore, it should enter into the composition of every fever 

 ball. Its dose is from two to four drachms. Grooms often dissolve it in 

 the water. There are two objections to this : either the horse is nauseated 

 and will not drink so much water as he ought ; or the salt taste of the 

 water causes considerable thirst, and disinclination to solid food. Nitre 

 while dissolving materially lowers the temperature of water, and fur- 

 nishes a very cold and useful lotion for sprain of the back sinews, and 

 other local inflammations. The lotion, however, should be used as soon 

 as the salt is dissolved, for it quickly becomes as warm as the surrounding 

 air. The Supertartrate of Potash, Cream of Tartar, is a mild diuretic, 

 and, combined with ^thiop's mineral, is a useful alterative in obstinate 

 mange or grease. 



Poultices. — Few horsemen are aware of the value of these simple 

 applications in abating inflammation, relieving pain, cleansing wounds, 

 and disposing them to heal. They are fomentations of the best kind con- 

 tinued much longer than a simple fomentation can be. In all inflammations 

 of the foot they are very beneficial, softening the horn, hardened by the 

 heat of the foot, and contracted and pressing on the internal and highly 

 sensible parts. The moisture and warmth are the useful parts of the 

 poultice ; and that poultice is the best for general purposes in which mois- 

 ture and warmth are longest retained. Perspiration is most abundantly 

 promoted in the part, the pores are opened, swellings are relieved, and 

 discharges of a healthy nature procured from wounds. 



Linseed meal forms the best general poultice, because it longest retains 

 the moisture. Bran, although frequently used for poultices, is objec- 

 tionable, because it so soon becomes dry. To abate considerable inflam- 

 mation, and especially in a wounded part, Goulard may be added, or the 

 linseed meal may be made into a paste with a decoction of poppy heads. 

 To i)romote a healthy discharge from an old or foul ulcer ; or separation of 

 the dead from the living parts, in the process of what is called coring out j 

 or to hasten the ripening of a tumour that must be opened ; or to cleanse 

 it when it is opened, two ounces of common turpentine may be added to 

 a pound of linseed meal ; but nothing can be so absurd, or is so injurious, 

 as the addition of turpentine to a poultice that is designed to be an 

 .emollient. The drawing poultices and stoppings of farriers are often 

 highly injurious, instead of abating inflammation. 



If the ulcer smells offensively, two ounces of powdered charcoal may 

 be added to the linseed meal, or the poultice may be made ol' water, to 

 which a solution of the chloride of lime has been added in the proportion of 

 half an ounce to a pound. As an emollient poultice for grease and cracked 



