50 MATERIA MEDICA. 



is an excellent application to almost every 

 kind of ulcer, disposing them to heal sooner 

 than any other apphcation. The best me- 

 ihod of using blue vitriol is in a state of so- 

 lution, that is, put as much of it (in pow- 

 der) into a pint of water as the latter is ca- 

 pable of dissolving, and to facihtate the 

 solution, let the watei' be boiling hot : this 

 solution may be used alone, or diluted with 

 water, as the circumstances of the case mav 

 require ; it may also be made stronger by 

 the addition o( sfro7ig )iiirous acid, or vitrio- 

 lic acid. When blue vitriol is used in sub- 

 stance, it should be finely powdered and 

 sprinkled on the ulcer. 



In bad broken knees, the ligaments are 

 often wounded, and there is generally some 

 ilifficulty in healing the wound ; I know no- 

 thing: that does so much (j^ood in those cases 

 as the solution of blue vitriol, particularly if 

 applied hot. 



As an internal remedy, blue vitriol is said 

 to possess a tonic power, but it should be 

 oiven cautiouslv, and much diluted. I 

 once saw six ounces sriven to a olandered 

 horse, by v*ay of experiment ; it soon des- 

 troyed the animal, by occasioning the most 



