DRUGS AND THEIR DOSES. 89 



Sulphuric Ether is also used in colic or gripes. The dose is |oz., with 

 a wineglassful of brandy or other spirits, and loz. of laudanum ; the whole 

 given in at least 1| pints of water or gruel. 



Foxglove.— See Digitalis. 



Gentian.— This is a bitter tonic and stomachic of great value. The 

 root of the plant (Gentiana lutea), dried and ground into a fine powder, is 

 the form in which it is mostly given to the horse, although both the extract 

 and tincture of gentian are also used. Given as a powder with the corn it 

 should be mixed with liquorice powder and some of the carminative and 

 odorous seeds, such as carraway, coriander, or aniseed. And it is often 

 combined with one of the mineral tonics, such as the sulphate of iron or 

 sulphate of copper. The following form for tonic powders will, in cases of 

 debility and loss of appetite, be found useful : Tonic powders : Pure sul- 

 phate of iron, l^oz. ; powdered gentian root, 3oz. ; liquorice powder, 

 l^oz. ; aniseed and carraways ground, each 3oz. The whole well mixed 

 and divided into twelve powders, one of which to be given mixed with th-3 

 corn — which must be previously slightly damped — each night. The dose of 

 the extract is from J to 1 drachm, and of the tincture loz. to 2oz., mixed 

 with water. 



Ginger. — This article is too well known to require description, it is, 

 however, not so well known that in the form of powder it is largely 

 adulterated, some of the best looking samples being mixed with flour, and 

 the requisite colour given with turmeric. Medicinally it is a stimulant 

 and cordial, and as such is largely used and of great value in horse 

 medicine. It is generally combined with purgatives, as it stimulates the 

 intestines to action, and combined with such tonics as gentian, it is used 

 as a cordial and appetizer, rousing the stomach to energy and provoking 

 the appetite in animals a bit out of health. A couple of teaspoonfuls of 

 good ground ginger is a useful addition to the oatmeal and water or quart 

 of ale which is sometimes given to the hard travelled and flagging horse. 

 It is also useful in combination with ether and ammonia in cases of w^indy 

 colic, in which cases the tincture of ginger is the best and most convenient 

 form to give it in, the dose being loz. 



Goulard's Extract.— See Lead. 



Hartshorn.— See Ammonia. 



Hellebore.— A powerful drug, entering into most of the formulas of the 

 old farriers for mange ointment, but its use is not to be recommended. 

 The fresh roots of the black hellebore have been used in fistulous withers 

 and poll evil, but can only be so used without danger by a veterinary 

 surgeon. 



Henbane— Very little used, but occasionally substituted for opium, as 

 it does not, like that drug, tend to produce constipation of the bowels. The 

 extract of henbane is the best form to give it in, the dose of which for the 

 horse is one to two drachms. 



Hydrochloric Acid.— See Muriatic Acid. 



Iodide of Iron.— See Iron. 



