80 MEDICINES USED FOR THE HORSE. 



Tliis acid as well as nitric or muriatic acid is a powerful irritating 

 poison when given into the stomach undiluted; and persons should bear 

 in mind when these acids are given that they should be largely diluted 

 with water and thoroughly mixed before administering. 



A dose of Sulphuric acid is about 10 to 40 drops, largely diluted with 

 water. 



Tannic Acid. (Called also Tannin.) This is produced from Nut- 

 galls, Oak bark, &c. It is uncrystallizable, white, or slightly yellowish, " 

 with a strongly astringent taste, inodorous, soluble in water, but not 

 very soluble in alcohol or ether, and insoluble in most oils. 



Tannic acid precipitates solutions of starch, albumen, and gluten, 

 and forms with gelatine an insoluble compound which is the basis of 

 leather. 



Uses. It is valuable, mixed with water, as a wash for running sores 

 and ulcers, and is also excellent for diarrhoea, and may be given for any 

 disease where this class of medicines is indicated. It will, in many 

 cases of bleeding sores, stop the bleeding if applied locally. It is some- 

 times used as an eye-wash with excellent success, by applying a solu- 

 tion of the following strength : tannic acid, i ounce, cold water one 

 quart ; as it is harmless and safe to use, we would recommend it as an 

 eye-wash. 



Dose. For diarrhoea the dose should be from i to 1 drachm. 



Aconite. (Wolfsbane— Monkshood.) An active poison which grows 

 abundantly in the forests of Germany, France and Switzerland. It is 

 also cultivated in the gardens of Europe, and has been introduced into 

 this country as an ornamental flower. All parts are poison. The leaves 

 and roots are used. A tincture made from the root is much more active 

 than from the leaves. 



Tincture of Aconite Root.— This is one of the most powerful, and suc- 

 cessful sedatives which is in use. It is one of the best medicines we 

 have for the successful treatment of several of the diseases of the horse, 

 when properly used ; and has, to a certain extent, done away with bleed- 

 ing and physicking ; the former of which has been in the past so indis- 

 criminately and dangerously used. It is not only sedative, but it is 

 an anodyne, diaphoretic and antiphlogistic. It controls fever, reduces 

 inflammation, and allays pain. In fact, we have no drug which will 

 so well control the circulation and action of the heart as aconite. 



Medical Uses—Vhe efi"ects of remedial doses are felt in 20 or 30 min- 

 utes, and are at their height in an hour or two, and continue with lit- 

 tle abatement from 3 to 5 hours. We have no single drug which is used 

 with such gratifying results in many cases, such as lung fever, or, in 

 fact, inflammation of any part of the body, colic from eating green food, 

 and founder. 



