ARTISTIC HORSE-SHOEING. Ill 



healthy stimulus to the fresh surface. The constitutional 

 treatment is still more important than the local, and should 

 consist of such substances as will cause an excessive 

 secretion from some organ, carrying- with it the poison of 

 the disease ; and this substance should be as little lowering" 

 to the horse as possible. Three such medicines are known, 

 viz., mercury, arsenic and iodine, all of which are paraded 

 by their several advocates as certain cures. The bichloride 

 of mercury (corrosive sublimate) is the form g-enerally 

 given, in doses of from 5 to 15 g-rs., dissolved carefulh^ 

 and then added to a pint of g-ruel, the next morning. If 

 arsenic is given, it may be administered according to the 

 formula already given ; and I believe it to be bj^ far the 

 best remedy in farc^^, and the least injurious to the horse. 

 But it is onl3' as an experiment upon a horse which would 

 otherwise be shot that I should ever advise the owner to 

 use these powerful drugs without regular advice, as it will 

 seldom happen that he will be able to calculate the proper 

 dose, or to knoAv when to push it, and when to hold his 

 hand. Sometimes, however, such a case occurs as the one 

 I have alluded to, and then he may feel justified in tr3'ing 

 his luck ; and if so, I Avould suggest his giving the 

 biniodide of mercury as follows : Biniodide of mercury, 

 3 to 5 grs. ; linseed meal and Avater, enough to make a ball. 

 To be given three times a day. This I believe to be more 

 likeh^ than any other remedy to effect a radical cure of the 

 disease. The dose may be increased up to 8 or 10 grains, 

 with care ; but the above will generally be found sufficient, 

 and more safe than corrosive sublimate or arsenic. 



