HORSE MEDICINES AND REMEDIES 241 



these being passed within the shoe, and well wetted with 

 water or cold lotion, swell, and thus are kept in their place 

 by the shoe itself, and will retain their moisture through- 

 out the night. Or, in case of prick of the foot, wet the pad 

 liberally with chloride of zinc lotion to keep down inflam- 

 mation. A good general stopping for keeping down fever 

 of the feet, suppling the hoof, and rendering it tough, may 

 be made of — 



Linseed meal . . . . .4 parts. 



Tar 1 part. 



Sulphate of zinc (white vitriol) . . J ounce. 



Styptics. — Such remedies as check bleeding internally or 

 externally. Those used internally are : Acetate of lead, 

 sulphate of zinc, catechu (terra Japonica), alum ; externally, 

 pressure, ligature, division of the blood-vessel, cold, the 

 actual cautery, cobweb, felt, down, oak-galls, powdered 

 alum, or any substance or fluid that has the property of 

 rapidly coagulating the serum. 



Dr. Paris has some judicious observations on Styptics, 

 especially as regards the horse and ass. He says : " The 

 manner in which styptics act (on the human subject) is 

 sufficiently shown by the pallor they at once produce on 

 the lips, in consequence of the blood-vessels becoming 

 diminished in diameter, and their coats increased in opacity. 

 Great popular error, however, still exists as regards these 

 local agents, which has arisen from deductions drawn from 

 their effects upon lower animals. Thus several substances 

 have obtained the reputation of Styptics from the marked 

 result which has followed their application to the wounded 

 and bleeding vessels in the extremities of the horse and 

 ass ; whereas the fact is that to these animals Nature has 

 supplied an inherent power of contraction which does not 

 exist in man. Hence Styptics are of powerful action on 

 the horse." Several Styptics have, at times, been held in 

 high esteem, but galls, dissolved in spirit or simple gallic 

 acid, will be found as good as any. Filings of iron, tartar, 

 and a little brandy form the favourite Styptic of French 

 and German practitioners, under the name of Helvetius's 

 Styptic. Eaton's Styptic, well known here, is merely 

 sulphate of iron and brandy, and Ruspini's Styptic is gallic 

 acid, brandy, and rose water The application of a hot 



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