HORSE MEDICINES AND REMEDIES 233 



Bran with boiling water poured upon it, allowed to get cold 

 and strained, is an excellent diluent. 



Infusions. — These are watery solutions of vegetable 

 matters, obtained by macerating the substance either in 

 hot or cold water, without boiling on the fire. Where 

 volatile oil is the active principle, cold infusion is 

 necessary ; where mucilage, or astringent principle, warmth 

 is requisite. 



The active matter of some vegetable substances is partly 

 or entirely extracted by water. Dried vegetables yield 

 their properties more readily and perfectly than when in 

 their green state. Boiling water is poured on the substance 

 to be infused, which has been previously grossly pounded 

 or powdered, the vessel is then covered and placed by a 

 fire. In five or six hours the transparent part may be 

 poured off, and is ready for use. In a few days, however, 

 all infusions become thick and lose their virtue, from the 

 decomposition of the vegetable matter. 



The infusion of camomile is used instead of water in mild 

 tonic drenches ; the infusion of gentian is a fine stomachic ; 

 so is the infusion of catechu in astringent mixtures ; the 

 infusion of linseed for catarrh ; and in some injections 

 tobacco-water — the infusion of tobacco. 



Liniments. — Preparations of intermediate consistency 

 between ointments and oils. They are intended either to 

 soothe an inflamed surface or, by gently stimulating the 

 skin, to remove deeper-seated pain or inflammation. As 

 an emollient liniment, one composed of half an ounce of 

 extract of lead and four ounces of olive oil will be useful. 

 For sprains, old swellings, or rheumatism, two ounces of 

 hartshorn, the same quantity of camphorated spirit, an 

 ounce of oil of turpentine, half an ounce of laudanum, and 

 a drachm of oil of origanum, may be mixed together ; or 

 an ounce of camphor may be dissolved in four ounces of 

 sweet oil, to which an ounce of oil of turpentine and a 

 drachm of oil of origanum should be afterwards added. A 

 little powdered cantharides, or tincture of cantharides, or 

 mustard powder will render either of these more powerful, 

 or convert it into a liquor blister. 



Soap Liniment^ commonly known under the name of 

 Opodeldoc, consists of hard soap, 1 ounce ; camphor, 3 

 drachms ; oil of rosemary, 20 drops ; oil of origanum, 10 

 drops; solution of ammonia, 6 drachms. This is the 



