SPERMACETI. 263 



a powerful^tonic and altrative, and has been used with 

 success, in the hands of Mr. Vines, of London, England, 

 in the cure of farcy and glanders in the horse. In the 

 same diseases, and where the lungs were free from tubercles, 

 I have cured them with the Spanish fly, gentian, copper, 

 and the sulphite of soda. 



Dose. — Spanish fly is given to the horse in five grain 

 doses once a day only, and mixed in cut or soft feed. 

 Horses are more easily affected by the Spanish fly than 

 mares. Blisters of Spanish fly are made as follows : 

 Powdered Spanish fly, one drachm ; hog's lard, six drachms ; 

 mix, and apply, by rubbing with the hand into the part 

 to be blistered, wash off the part the next day, and oil or 

 lard the part for a week, and the swelling will leave when 

 the irritation has gone out of the part. 



The tincture of Spanish fly was formerly used as the 

 basis of the old sweating blister. An excellent applica- 

 tion for the removal of a splint, or soft tumours about the 

 legs of horses, is made as follows : Tincture of Spanish fly, 

 one ounce ; oil of croton, twenty drops ; . well rubbed into 

 the part, it acts like magic; that is, if the tumor can be 

 removed at all by any means. 



Specifics. — Medicines which cure disease, but the 

 manner of action is unknoAvn. 



Spermaceti. — -This is a solid crystalline fat, found in 

 the large head of the sperm Avhale. There is a plan, 

 however, by which it is said that spermaceti can be made out 

 of the muscles of a dead cow or horse, by enclosing the 

 flesh in a box perforated with holes, and sinking it in a 

 running stream of water for a month or more, when the 

 flesh will be converted into a mass of tough, solid matter. 

 After which, it is treated with nitrous acid, poured over it 

 to remove the offensive smell, and to separate the fat. 



