458 CATTLE. 



diuretic. The dose would vary from two to four drachms. When 

 dissolved in water, it much lowers the temperature of that fluid, and 

 therefore the solution, applied immediately after it is made, forms an 

 excellent application in cases of sprains, or where there is much 

 superficial inflammation without any lesion of the skin. Combined 

 with antimonial powder, or emetic tartar and digitalis, it forms an 

 almost indispensable ingredient in every fever drink. 



Sulphur of Potash. — An ingredient in the Dover's powder. 



Poultices. — These are justly valued for abating inflammation, 

 cleansing wounds, and disposing them to heal. In some cases of foul 

 in the foot, and especially in that most painful and occasionally fatal 

 variety whose immediate seat is at the division of the pasterns, also 

 in ulcers about the throat or joints, and in garget, poultices can 

 scarcely be dispensed with. The basis will generally be linseed meal, 

 rendered even more soothing by opium ; or to which activity may be 

 given by the addition of common turpentine or chloride of lime. 



Rye, Ergot of. — The spuned rye has lately, and with considera- 

 ble advantage, been introduced into veterinary practice in protracted 

 or i^flicult parturition, in order to stimulate the uterus to renewed 

 and increased action, when the labor pains appeared to be subsiding. 



Setons. — The use of setons in practice on the diseases of cattle is 

 in a manner limited to the passing of a piece of hair, rope, or of black 

 hellebore root through the dev/lap ; and, as exciting inflammation in 

 the neighborhood of the diseased part, and thus lessening the original 

 one, and causing a determination -of blood to a greater or less extent 

 to this new seat of irritation, tiiey are useful both in acute and chronic 

 inflammation of tlie respiratory organs. In young cattle rapidly 

 thrivii.g, and placed in pasture perhaps a little too luxuriant, perma- 

 nent setons are higlily beneficial. They act as a salutary drain, and 

 prevent that accumulation of tiie circulating fluid, which is the usual 

 cause of inflammatory fever and other fatal complaints. 



Sulphate of Soda. Glauber's Salts. — A very common purgative 

 for cattle ; and a very good one, but inconvenient on account of its 

 requiring three times its weight of water in order to dissolve it, and 

 also on account of its so readily efflorescing when it is exposed to 

 the atmosphere, and in this state of efllorescence or powder, becoming 

 more purgative than when in its crystalline form. The practitioner 

 sometimes finds it a little difificult to calculate the amount of the dose 

 which he should give, on account of this variation in form and effect ; 

 and this may explain the occasional uncertainty of the Glauber's salts. 

 The Epsom salts, a veiy little dearer, dissolving in its own weight of 

 water, and retaining the same form and the same purgative power 

 under every state of the atmosphere or of exposure to it, is now 

 rapidly superseding the Glauber's. 



Chloride of Sodium. Common Salt. — The experience of almost 

 every farmer will now confirm the benefit derived from the mixturtf 



