78 MEDICINES USED FOR THE HORSE. 



A FEW OF THE 



MEDICINES USED FOR THE HOESE. 



We once heard it remarked by an eminent professor of Materia 

 Medica, that, if he was compelled to combat with disease with 

 either opium alone or all of the remaining drugs in use without 

 the opium, he would choose the opium alone. 



Another professor has said, "Give me mercury, iodine, 

 quinine and the lancet, and I will combat with disease." While I do not 

 altogether endorse the views of either of these distinguished professors, 

 either in the number or selection of medicines they would choose first in 

 preference to all others, I would say, give me, as my first choice, aconite 

 and iron, in connection with the opium, and a few others, and I should feel 

 that I was fitted out with the most important drugs for the successful treat- 

 ment of the diseases of the horse. 



We will give something of a history of the more important drugs used 

 for the treatment of the diseases of the horse, with their effects and uses. 



^ciDS. —These nearly all have a sour taste, and are derived from the 

 vegetable, mineral and animal kingdoms. The number of acids used in 

 medicines is small; among the most important of these are acetic acid, 

 muriatic acid, nitric acid, sulphuric acid, tannic acid, gallic acid, carbolic 

 acid, arsenious acid, phosphoric acid and tartaric acid. 



Acetic Acid.— When diluted with seven parts of water, it is about the 

 strength of ordinary vinegar. It is produced from the purification of pyro- 

 ligneous acid. 



Jjse.—li is used by some, with good results, for sprains and bruises, and 

 for the destruction of the poison of insects, by adding to six ounces of the 

 acid one-fourth ounce tincture of opium and two ounces of camphor. 



Muriatic Acid.— This acid is obtained by the action of sulphuric acid 

 on common salt. When pure it is a transparent, colorless liquid, but the 

 commercial acid has a yellowish color. 



Muriatic acid is a good toni€ in debilitating diseases of the horse, and is 

 refrigerant and antiseptic. 



Dose.— Halt to one fluid drachm may be given, largely diluted with cold 

 water, and repeated two to four times a day. 



Externally, it may be used for sores in the feet, by pouring a few drops 

 into the sores or nail holes. Eight or ten drops may be advantageously 



