306 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



cantharides, and spare the sides. A more active vesicatory, 

 and a safer place for its action, can be found. We proceed 

 to have the hair clipped from off the entire length of the 

 back ; then we take liquor ammonia, diluted with four 

 times its amount of cold water, and with this we thoroughly 

 saturate the place from which the hair has been cut. We 

 next cover the part with cloths several times folded, to 

 prevent the ammonia from evaporating. This needs to be 

 watched, but will often raise a blister in ten minutes; 

 whereas cantharides rarely has any effect before the next 

 day. The ammonia is likewise more certain than the 

 Spanish fly, and is altogether to be preferred, as in inflam- 

 mation of the lungs in the horse there is no time to be lost 

 before remedial measures are adopted. While this is doing, 

 we procure four men, if possible, and place one at each leg, 

 to rub the part with their hands as hard and as long as 

 they can. Four thick woollen bandages are then produced, 

 and one wound gently, not tightly, round each leg. A hood 

 is then put upon the animal's head, but the whole of the 

 body left uncovered. 



The next thing is to procure a cool loose box — not a cold 

 one, but a cool loose box — and to have the horse gently led 

 into it, and then to look about and observe that no draughts 

 blow directly upon his body. This being ascertained, pro- 

 vided the weather be favourable, the door and windows 

 may be left open throughout the day. 



All this accomplished, order the following drink to be 

 prepared and administered : 



Rub down the belladonna in a little of the water ; then 

 mix with the other ingredients. The aconite (wolfsbane) 

 should be of the strength of a drachm to an ounce. If 

 stronger or weaker, make the due allowance, so as to have 

 but the virtue of the fourth of a drachm in the drink. 



Should the foregoing be rejected, either of the following 

 may be employed : 



