MEDICINES USED IN THE TREATMENT OF CATTLE. 449 



mouth, and as a useful wash after the tongue has been lanced in 

 blain ; and unless in the form just mentioned, the less it is used inter- 

 nally the better. 



Ammonia is not frequently used. In the form of hartshorn, it 

 enters into the composition of some stimulating liniments, as in cases 

 of palsy. The carbonate of ammonia has been extolled as a speci6c 

 for hoove. The author always doubted this ; he put it to the test, 

 and it failed. It was administered as a chemical principle, it being 

 supposed that the alkali would neutralize the acid gas that was extri- 

 cated from the fermenting food ; but it has been proved that this gas 

 consists chiefly either of carburetted or sulphuretted hydrogen ; 

 besides which there is another consideration, that, except adminis- 

 tered by means of Reed's pump, not one drop of the ammonia would 

 find its way into the paunch. 



Anodynes. — The one commonly used in cattle-practice is opium. 

 The doses in which it may be employed have already been pointed 

 out when treating of the diseases in which it is indicated. 



Antimony. — There are but three preparations of it can be useful 

 to the practitioner on cattle. The first is 



Emetic Tartar, which, in doses from half a drachm to a drachm, 

 and combined with nitre and digitahs, has great efficacy in lower- 

 ing the circulation of the blood in inflammation of the lungs and 

 every catarrhal affection, and particularly in that species of pleurisy 

 to which cattle are so subject. Emetic tartar, rubbed down with 

 lard, constitutes a powerful and very useful stimulant when applied 

 to the skin. 



Antimonial Powder — the powder of oxide of antimony with 

 phosphate of lime. It is frequently sold in the shops under the name 

 of James's Powder, and possesses all the properties of that more 

 expensive drug. It is a useful febrifuge, in cases where it may not be 

 advisable to nauseate the beast to too great a degree. _^ 



Chloride (Butyr) of Antimony. — Where it is wished that a caus- 

 tic shall act only superficially, this is the most useful one that can be 

 employed. It has a strong affinity for water, and therefore readily 

 combines with the fluids belonging to the part to which it is applied, 

 and so becomes diluted and comparatively powerless, and incapable 

 of producing any deep and corroding mischief. It has also the 

 advantage, that, by the change of color which it produces, it accu- 

 rately marks the extent of its action, and therefore forms an unerring 

 guide to the surgeon. For warts, foul in the foot, cankered foot, and 

 for some indolent and unhealthy wounds, it is a valuable caustic and 

 stimulant. 



Antispasmodics. — Opium, for its general power, and particularly 

 for its efficacy in locked-jaw, stands unrivalled. The spirits of tur- 

 pentine and nitrous ether are useful in cases of colic. 



Astringents. — These are lew in number, but they are powerful : 



