498 MEDICINE. 



name in order to excuse that propensity to dose the horse with medicines, which 

 is the disgrace of the groom, and the bane of the stable. 



By alteratives we understand those drugs which effect some slow change in 

 the diseased action of certain parts without interfering with the food or work ; 

 but by common consent the term seems to be confined to medicines for the 

 diseases of the circulation, or of the digestive organs, or of the skin. If a horse 

 is heavy and incapable of work from too good keep, or if he is off his food from 

 some temporary indigestion — or if he has mange or grease, or cracked heels, or 

 swelled legs, a few alteratives are prescribed, and the complaint is expected to 

 be gradually and imperceptibly removed. For all skin affections there is no 

 better alterative than that so often recommended in this treatise, consisting of 

 black antimony, nitre, and sulphur. If there is any tendency to grease, some 

 resin may be added to each ball. If the complaint is accompanied by weakness, 

 a little gentian and ginger may be farther added, but we enter our protest against 

 the ignorant use of mercury in any form, or any of the mineral acids, or mineral 

 tonics, or heating spices, as alteratives. We indeed should be pleased if we 

 could banish the term alterative from common usage. The mode of proceeding 

 which reason and science would dictate is to ascertain the nature and degree of 

 the disease, and then the medicine which is calculated to restore the healthy 

 action of the part, or of the frame generally. 



Alum is occasionally used internally in cases of super-purgation in the form of 

 alum- whey, two drachms of the powder being added to a pint of hot milk ; but 

 there are much better astringents, although this may sometimes succeed when 

 others fail. If alum is added to a vegetable astringent, as oak-bark, the power of 

 both is diminished. Its principal use is external. A solution of two drachms to a 

 pint of water forms alone, or with the addition of a small quantity of white 

 vitriol, a very useful wash for cracked heels, and for grease generally ; and also 

 for those forms of swelled legs attended with exudation of moisture through the 

 skin. Some add the Goulard lotion, forgetting the chemical decomposition that 

 takes place ; the result of which is, that the alumine, possessing little astrin- 

 gency, is detached, and two salts with no astringency at all, the sulphate of 

 lead and the sulphate of potash, are formed. 



The Burnt Alum is inferior to the common alum for the purposes men- 

 tioned, and we have better stimulants, or caustics, to apply to wounds. 



Ammonia is, to the annoyance of the horse, and the injury of his eyes and 

 his lungs, plentifully extricated from the putrefying dung and urine of the 

 stable ; but, when combined with water in the common form of hartshorn, it is 

 seldom used in veterinary practice. It has been given, and with decided benefit, 

 and when other things have failed, in flatulent colic ; and is best administered 

 in the form of the aromatic spirit of ammonia, and in doses of one or two ounces^ 

 in warm water. 



Chloride op Ammonia, or sal ammoniac, is scarcely deserving of a 

 place in our list. It is not now used internally ; and as an astringent em- 

 brocation, it must yield to several that are more effectual, and less likely to 

 blemish. 



Anisi Semina, Anise-seed. — This seed is here mentioned principally as a 

 record of old times, when it was one of the sheet-anchors of the farrier. It is 

 not yet quite discarded from his shop as a stimulant, a carminative, and a 

 cordial. 



Anodynes. — Of these there is but one in horse practice : Opium is the only 

 drug that will lull pain. It may be given as an anodyne, but it will also be an 

 astringent in doses of one, t<vo, or three drachms. 



Antimony.— There are several valuable preparations of tliis metal. 



