86 MEDICINES USED FOR THE UORSE. 



Dose, from 1 to 4 clrachms. 



Glycerine. This is the sweet principle of fats or oils, and was dis- 

 covered nearly a century ago, when it was called the sweet pri7iciple of 

 oils. It is a lluid whicii scarcely ever dries up, and is a thick, syrupy 

 substance resembling castor oil in its looks, but without smell, and very 

 sweet to the taste. 



Uses. It is an excellent application to many sores and is used witii 

 very gratifying results for scratclies or sore heels; also for skin diseases 

 when a softening and soothing application is required. When a little 

 is added to poultices, it h^as the ellect to keep them soft and moist for a 

 long time. It is soluble in water. 



Iron. This is one of the most valuable medicines in use lor many 

 cases of debility, as it supplies tlie red corpuscles of the blood, whicli 

 are generally deficient in a debilitated animal. Various preparatioris 

 of iron are in use, of which the following are the most commonly used. 



Copperas, — (Sulphate of Iron.) This is one of the chejipest, and, 

 for many purposes, the best. It is tonic and astringent, and is used 

 with good results for weakness, bad colidition, swelling of the legs, 

 body, sheath, &c. 



Dose, h. to \h dr^iehms, and it should be combmed with the same quantity 

 of gentian or ginger, and given m the feed, or as a drench with cold 

 water. 



Muriaied tincture of iron. This is an excellent preparation of iron, 

 and may be given in doses varying from \ to one ounce. Although 

 sever:il other preparations of iron are in use, the two given above are 

 all that are ordinarily required. 



Juniper Berries. The best Juniper berries come from the south of 

 Europe and are about the size of a pea, and more or less shrivelled. 

 They are produced from a small evergreen shrub which sometimes 

 grows twelve or fifteen feet high. It is used for loss of appetite, to 

 stimulate the stonmch and kidneys to action, and during convalescence 

 from disease. 



Dose. One to two ounces. 



Kino. This is the inspissated juice of several plants which grow in 

 Africa, East and West Indies, South America, etc. 

 It is a powerful astringent and is used in diarrhoea as a substitute for 



catechu, which is not quite as powerful. 



Dose. One to five drachms. 



Raw Linseed Oil This is perhaps the safest and best purgatn^e m 



common use, and should be given by non-professional persons in pref- 

 erence to any other medicine. Never give boiled oil. 

 Dose, 1 to 2 pints, as a purgative. 



