MEDICINE. 50 « 



gentian, with carbonate of iron, may be safely ventured upon; but if the gentian 

 had been first used, and a little too soon, there might have been considerable 

 and perhaps dangerous return of fever. 



Charcoal is occasionally used as an antiseptic, being made into a poultice 

 with linseed meal, and applied to foul and offensive ulcers, and to cracked heels. 

 It removes the foetid and unwholesome smell that occasionally proceeds from 

 them. 



Charges are thick adhesive plasters spread over parts that have been strained 

 or weakened, and, being applied to the skin, adhere for a considerable time. 

 The following mixture makes a good charge— Burgundy or common pitch, five 

 ounces ; tar, six ounces ; yellow wax, one ounce, melted together, and when 

 they are becoming cool, half a drachm of powdered cantharides well stirred in. 

 This must be partially melted afresh when applied, and spread on the part with a 

 large spatula, as hot as can be done without giving the animal too much pain. 

 Flocks of tow should be scattered over it while it is warm, and thus a thick 

 and adhesive covering will be formed that cannot be separated from the skin 

 for many months. It is used for old sprains of the. loins, and also strains of the 

 back sinews. The charge acts in three ways — by the slight stimulant power 

 which it possesses it gradually removes all deep-seated inflammation — by its 

 stimulus and its pressure it promotes the absorption of any callus or thicken- 

 ing beneath ; and, acting as a constant bandage, it gives tone and strength to 

 the part. 



Clysters. — These are useful and too often neglected means of hastening the 

 evacuation of the bowels when the disease requires their speedy action. The 

 old ox-bladder and wooden pipe may still be employed, and a considerable 

 quantity of fluid thrown into the intestine ; but the patent stomach and clyster 

 pump of Mr. Reid is far preferable, as enabling the practitioner to inject a 

 greater quantity of fluid, and in a less time- 

 Two ounces of soft or yellow soap, dissolved in a gallon of warm water, will 

 form a useful aperient clyster. It will detach or dissolve many irritating sub- 

 stances that may have adhered to the mucous coat of the bowels. For a more 

 active aperient, half a pound of Epsom salts, or even of common salt, may be 

 dissolved in the same quantity of water. A stronger injection, but not to be 

 used if much purgative medicine has been previously given, may be composed 

 of an ounce of Barbadoes aloes, dissolved in two or three quarts of warm water. 

 If nothing else can be procured, warm water may be employed ; it will act as 

 a fomentation to the inflamed and irritable surface of the bowels, and will have 

 no inconsiderable effect even as an aperient. 



In cases of over-purging or inflammation of the bowels, the injection must be 

 of a soothing nature. It may consist of gruel alone, or, if the purging is 

 considerable, and difficult to stop, the gruel must be thicker, and four ounces 

 of prepared or powdered chalk well mixed with or suspended in it, with two 

 scruples or a drachm of powdered opium. 



No oil should enter into the composition of a clyster, except that linseed oil 

 may be used for the expulsion of the ascarides, or needle- worms. 



In epidemic catarrh, when the horse sometimes obstinately refuses to eat or 

 to drink, his strength may be supported by nourishing clysters; but they should 

 consist of thick gruel only, and not more than a quart should be administered 

 at once. A greater quantity would be ejected soon after the pipe is withdrawn. 

 Strong broths, and more particularly ale and wine, are dangerous ingredients. 

 They may rapidly aggravate the fever, and should never be administered, except 

 under the superintendence, or by the direction, of a veterinary surgeon. 



The .principal art of administering a clyster consists in not frightening the 

 horse. The pipe, well oiled, should be very gently introduced, and the fluid 



