270 HORSE AND CATTLE MEDICINES. 



(6.) Rosin — Or resin, is the residue left from the dis- 

 tilation of turpentine, and is chiefly used by horsemen 

 to cause the horse to urinate more freely. Much mis- 

 chief is often done to horses, by the administration of 

 rosin. Indeed, most diseases of the kidneys and of 

 the loins, can be traced to over-dosing with this sub- 

 stance. The more and oftener that rosin is given to the 

 horse, the more the horse appears in the eyes of the 

 driver to stand in need of his favorite dose. The kidneys 

 become over-worked, the desire to urinate is more fre- 

 quent, and less urine is voided each time, and the poor 

 man does not see the mischief he has already done, but 

 hastens to give the horse more to remedy the urinary defect 

 he has thus been instrumental in producing. It will be 

 well to remember that powerful diuretics, like powerful 

 purgatives, tend only to weaken and debilitate. If there 

 be a urinary defect, find out ^the cause, and if possible 

 have it removed, and the efi'ect will cesise ^' causa suh- 

 lata, toUitur, effectus," but do not attempt to do so by 

 force, and against all science and common sense. Other 

 preparations of turpentine have already been noticed. 

 (See Tar.) 



Urse Ursi — The leaves of the whortleberry, — was 

 once in repute in diseases of the horse, but it has now 

 fallen, and others have taken its place. It was used 

 chiefly in diseases of the bladder and kidney. 



Valerian. — Valeriana Officinalis. — However useful 

 valerian may be in nervous irritation in man, it is not so 

 useful in veterinary patients. Camphor, and the gum 

 resins, or assafoetida, answer our purpose better than 

 valerian. 



