MEDICINE. 505 



exhibited slight symptoms of staggers when their labour has been unusually 

 protracted and their stomachs left too long empty ; or mixed with diuretic 

 medicine, to fine the legs of the over-worked and debilitated animal ; but in no 

 other case should they obtain a place in the stable, or be used at the discretion of 

 the carter or the groom. 



Corrosive Sublimate. — See Mercury. 



Creasote has very lately been introduced into veterinary practice, and is 

 much valued on account of its antiseptic properties. It is obtained by the 

 destructive distillation of various substances, as pyroligneous acid, tar, wood 

 smoke, &c. Pure creasote is colourless and transparent ; its odour is that of 

 smoked meat, and its taste is caustic and burning. It coagulates the albumen of 

 the blood, and hence has been lately employed in stopping haemorrhages. It 

 acts very powerfully on the general system, and quickly destroys small animals. 

 Professor Morton gives a very interesting and faithful account of it. It is, 

 according to him, both a stimulant and a tonic. In an undiluted state it acts 

 as a caustic. When diluted it is a general excitant and an antiseptic. In the 

 form of a lotion, a liniment, or an ointment, it has been useful in farcy and 

 glanders, also in foot-rot, canker, and thrush, — mange, caries, excessive suppu- 

 ration, and the repression of fungous granulations. As a caustic it acts as a 

 powerful stimulant, and it is an antiseptic. 



Croton Tiglii Semina, Croton Seeds. — The croton-nut has not been long 

 introduced into veterinary practice, although it has been used from time imme- 

 morial by the inhabitants of India as a powerful purgative. An oil has been 

 extracted from it, and used by the surgeon ; the meal is adopted by the veteri- 

 narian. It is given in doses from a scruple to half a drachm, and, from its acrid 

 nature, in the form of a ball, with an ounce of linseed meal. When it does 

 operate the effect is generally observed in six or eight hours, the stools being 

 profuse and watery, and the patient frequently griped. On account of its speedy 

 operation, it may be given in locked jaw and staggers : and also in dropsy of the 

 chest or belly, from the watery and profuse stools which it produces ; but it is 

 often uncertain in its operation, and its griping, and the debility which it 

 occasions, are serious objections to it as common physic. When placed on the 

 tongue of the horse in quantities varying from twenty to forty drops, it produces 

 purging, but the membrane of the mouth frequently becomes violently inflamed. 

 This likewise happens, but not to so great a degree, when it is given in the form 

 of a drink, or in a mash. 



Demulcents are substances that have the power of diminishing the effect of 

 acrimonious or stimulating substances. The first, by some oily or mucilaginous 

 substance, sheaths the sensible parts. The other dilutes the stimulus, and 

 diminishes its power. It will rarely be difficult to determine which effect should 

 be produced, and the means by which it is to be effected. 



Diaphoretics, are medicines that increase the sensible and insensible per- 

 spiration of the animal. As it regards the horse, they are neither many noi 

 powerful. Antimony in its various forms, and sulphur, have some effect in 

 opening the pores of the skin, and exciting its vessels to action, and especially 

 when assisted by warmth of stable or clothing, and therefore is useful in those 

 diseases in which it is desirable that some portion of the blood should be 

 diverted from the overloaded, and inflamed, and vital organs of the chest, 

 to the skin or the extremities. The only diaphoretics, however, on which 

 much confidence can ho placed, and especially to produce condition, are warm 

 clothing and good grooming 



Digestives are applications to recent or old wounds, as mild stimulants, in 

 order to produce a healthy appearance and action in them, and to cause them 

 more speedily to heal. A weak solution of blue vitriol is an excellent diges- 



