MEDICINES, 257 



The most useful consist of five parts of sublimed sulphur, one of nitre, one 

 of linseed meal, and two of lard or palm oil. 



Alum is a powerful astringent, whether employed externally or inter- 

 nally. It is occasionally administered in doses of from 10 to 15 grains in 

 obstinate diarrhoea. In some obstinate cases, alum whey has been em- 

 ployed in the form of a clyster. 



Oxide of Antimony, in the form of a compound powder, and upder the 

 name of James's powder, is employed as a\udorific, or to cause a deter- 

 mination to the skin. 



The Antimonii Potassio Tartras (Tartar Emetic), besides its effect 

 on the skin, is a useful nauseant, and invaluable in inflammation of the 

 lungs and catarrhal affections of every kind. The Slack Sesquisulphuret 

 of Antimony is a compound of sulphur and antimony, and an excellent 

 alterative. 



Argenti Nitras Nitrate of Silver {Lunar Caustic). I have already 

 strongly advocated the employment of this caustic for empoisoned wounds 

 and bites of rabid animals. In my opinion it supersedes the use of every 

 other caustic, and generally of the knife. I have also given it internally 

 as a tonic to the dog, in cases of chorea, in doses from an eighth to a quarter 

 of a grain. A dilute solution may be employed as an excitant to wounds, 

 in which the healing process has become sluggish. For this purpose, ten 

 grains or more may be dissolved in a fluid ounce of distilled water. A few 

 fibres of tow dipped in this solution, being drawn through the channel 

 which is left on the removal of a seton, quickly excite the healing action. 

 Occasionally one or two drops of this solution may be introduced into the 

 eye for the purpose of removing opalescence of the cornea. In cases of 

 fungoid matter being thrown out on the cornea, the fungus may be touched 

 with a rod of nitrate of silver, and little pain will follow. 



The Peruvian Bark, or its active principle the disulphate of quina, 

 is a valuable tonic in distemper, especially when combined with the iodide 

 of iron ; the iron increasing the general tone of the system, and the iodine 

 acting as a stimulant to the absorbents. 



Blisters are occasionally useful or indispensable in some of the casualties 

 and diseases to which the dog is liable. They are mostly of the same de- 

 scription, and act upon the same principles as in the horse, whether in the 

 form of plaster, or ointment, or stimulating fluid. Blisters can be kept on 

 the dog with difficulty : nothing short of a wire muzzle will suffice ; Mr. 

 Blame says, that for very large dogs, he used to be compelled to make use 

 of a perforated tin one. The judgment of the practitioner will determine 

 in these cases, as well as with regard to the horse, whether the desired 

 effect should be produced by severe measures or by those of a milder cha- 

 racter, by active blisters or by milder stimulants : the difficulty of the 

 measures to be adopted, and the degree of punishment that may be inflicted, 

 being never forgotten by the operator. 



We have stated in our work on the Horse, that " the art of blistering 

 consists in cutting or rather shaving the hair perfectly close ; then well 

 rubbing in the ointment, and afterwards, and, what is of the greatest con- 

 sequence of all, plastering a little more of the ointment lightly over the 

 part, and leaving it. As soon as the vesicles have perfectly risen, which 

 will be in twenty or twenty-four hours, the torture of the animal may be 

 somewhat relieved by the application of olive or neat's-foot oil, or any 

 emollient ointment. 



