COMMON MEDICINES 283 



monia water, alcohol, water, and various aromatics. It quickly 

 stimulates the heart, lungs, and digestive organs, and increases 

 bronchial secretions, etc. It is antacid and leaves few harmful 

 after effects. It is very useful in cases of exhaustion, sunstroke, 

 colic, hoven, and in certain coughs. The dose for horses and 

 cattle is about one ounce in half a pint of water. Sheep and 

 swine take about one eighth as much. 



Camphor. — Camphor is commonly known as camphor gvun. 

 Spirits of camphor consists of the gum dissolved in alcohol, in 

 a strength of ten per cent. The gum is readily soluble in alco- 

 hol, ether and chloroform, and but slightly soluble in water. 

 Used externally in liniments, it has first a mildly stimulating 

 and then slight local anesthetic effect. The vapor kills fleas, 

 moths, bugs, etc. Internally it is a useful, safe, and dependable 

 stimulant to the vital centers in cases of great depression, shock, 

 or collapse. 



In urgent cases for which camphor is most commonly used it 

 should be dissolved in olive oil and given by hypodermic injec- 

 tion. The dose for a horse is about one dram dissolved in four 

 drams of olive oil — about two drams of the solution to be in- 

 jected at each place. 



Gentian. — Powdered gentian root is a stomachic,^ and tonic. 

 It promotes appetite, increases the secretions and improves 

 digestion. It has some value also as a vermifuge ; - but it is 

 especially useful where a simple, bitter tonic is needed, as for 

 highly fed stock "off-feed," or where debility follows an acute 

 disease like influenza or pneumonia. It is helpful in other 

 cases of debility which are accompanied by poor appetite and 

 digestion. 



Horses take one half to one ounce and cattle one or two ounces. 



Ging-er. — Ginger, as usually seen, is in the powdered root — 

 or, rather, rhizome. This is another stomachic and stimulant. 

 It is very useful for mild digestive disturbances. It is often 

 combined with i)urgatives as an aid and to prevent griping and 

 depression. 



It is especially important with the salines, like epsom salts, 

 given in full doses. 



Horses take about one ounce, and cattle two to four ounces. 



* Stimulates normal activities of tlie stomach. 

 ^ E.xpels worms. 



