86 THE DISEASES OF HORSES. 



combination of ammonia with acetic acid, and is a febrifuge or fever medi- 

 cine. It is generally combined with nitrate or chlorate of potash, and sweet 

 spirit of nitre. The following is a useful form of it to keep at hand, and in 

 a well-corked bottle, and in a cool place, it will keep good for years : — 

 Concentrated fever mixture : Nitrate of potash, loz. ; water, 8oz. Dissolve 

 the nitrate of potash and add the concentrated Mindererus'a spirit, 4oz. ; 

 sweet spirit of nitre, 3oz. The dose is two tablespoonfuls, diluted with a 

 pint of water or gruel, and it may with perfect safety be given in colds, in- 

 fluenza, &c, twice or thrice a day, but it is generally better in these cases 

 to give a purge first. 



Animal Oil, also known as Dippel's oil, an abominable compound of 

 common oil, paraffin, acetic acid, &c, is now obsolete. 



Antimony. — There are three preparations of antimony to which I must 

 refer, and as being much the best known among horsemen, I will take first 

 the black or crude antimouy, and I may observe here that liver of antimony 

 is the same thing, as far as its medicinal properties go, and, indeed, often 

 literally so, being merely the black antimony with a little Armenian bole, or 

 red earth added. Crude antimony is considered to be an alterative, and as 

 such is given in doses of from a quarter to half an ounce, generally mixed 

 with nitre and aromatic seeds, and in the form I have given under 

 "Alteratives " it can do no harm, but the profession discard it, and when 

 they use antimony do so in the more active and reliable form of tartarised 

 antimony or tartar emetic. 



Butter of Antimony, is a well known yellowish red liquid, a mild 

 caustic, used as an application in cases of canker, corns, &c. It must not 

 be mixed with water, as that decomposes it, rendering it useless. 



Tartarised Antimony, or Tartar Emetic, is a preparation of 

 power, and must be used with caution. It is given to reduce feverishness, 

 in doses of half a drachm to a drachm. The following powder may, in 

 such cases, be given twice a day : — Tartar emetic, ^dr. ; powdered cam- 

 phor, ldr. : nitre, 2dr. ; powdered liquorice, |oz. ; to be given in a mash, 

 or, if refused, made into a ball, and so administered. 



Aqua Fortis.— See Nitric Acid. 



Arnica. — Arnica has for a long time been popular as a cure for swellings, 

 lameness, &c. It is used in the form of tincture, made by macerating the 

 root or leaves or both in spirit, and applied as a lotion diluted with water- 

 one part of tincture to ten or twelve parts of water. 



Balsam of Sulphur. — See Oil of Sulphur. 



Belladonna, or Deadly Nightshade.— The extract of this plant is 

 used, but it is of too dangerous a nature to be prescribed by any except 

 professional men. The following prescription is from a veterinary surgeon 

 of eminence ; I have often prepared and known great relief afforded by it to 

 horses suffering from broken wind, roaring, whistling, and other affections 

 Df the respiratory organs : — Take extract of belladonna, §dr. ; powdered 

 camphor, ^dr. ; powdered squills, 2dr. ; gum arabic, ldr. ; and common 

 mass, |oz., made into a ball; one to be given daily. The balls should be 



