92 THE DISEASES OF HORSES. 



poisonous, or at least much safer, means. As an application to indolent 

 sores or proud flesb, there are better and safer articles ; and for the 

 destruction of parasites on horse and cattle, non-poisonous applications 

 are equally effective. 



Mercurial or Blue Ointment is mercury or quicksilver killed 

 by triturition with lard, and is used alone, or with iodine, as an applica- 

 tion for the redaction and dispersion of hard swellings, and it is also 

 often used for destroying lice, and enters into many recipes for mange 

 ointments ; but I do not recommend it for either of these two latter 

 purposes, as more effectual and less dangerous remedies can be 



Bed Precipitate is a powerful preparation, and one part of it to 

 seven parts of rosin ointment makes an excellent stimulating application 

 to sluggish sores that show an indisposition to heal. For canker in the 

 foot the ointment given under that heading I have found excellent. 



White Precipitate, another mercurial, is also used for destroying lice, 

 &c, and an ointment of it is sometimes of good effect applied to indolent 

 sores. 



Mindererus's Spirit.— See Ammonia. 



Monkshood or Wolfsbane (Aconitum napellus).—The large blue 

 flowered monkshood is well known as a garden plant. It is native to the 

 Alpine and other mountainous forests. The root and the leaves are both 

 used medicinally, as are, although not so generally, the seeds. From these 

 are made various preparations as the tincture extract and liniment. From 

 them is obtained the active medicinal principle of the plant aconitine. 

 Aconite, whether used internally or externally, acts as a sedative, and is a 

 most useful agent in the hands of the professional man. But it is of too 

 powerfully active and dangerous a nature to be used except under such 

 advice and guidance. The fresh root bears such a resemblance to horse 

 radish that fatal mistakes have occurred through confounding the two. 



Mountain Arnica. — See Arnica. 



Muriate of Ammonia, or Hydrochlorate of Ammonia, commonly 

 called Sal Ammoniac. — See Ammonia. 



Muriate of Antimony, or Ter-chloride of Antimony, commonly 

 called Butyr of Antimony, and Oil and Butter of Antimony. — See Anti- 

 mony. 



Muriatic Acid, or more correctly hydrochloric acid, commonly called 

 spirit of salt, because it is obtained by the action of sulphuric acid on the 

 chloride of sodium (common salt) is occasionally used in veterinary practice 

 as a tonic, largely dilated with water, the dose being one to two drachms, 

 but it is principally as a lithontriptic that the profession have recourse to 

 it. By lithontriptic is meant an agent that will dissolve or break down the 

 stones, which are earthy carbonates that form in the bladder. In such cases 

 it is given in even larger doses, but, of course, always largely diluted. It 

 is used in combination with rectified spirit of wine in making tincture of 

 iron, which preparation is given as an astringent and a styptic. Externally 



