MEDICINE. 509 



Banbury, frequently resorts to it in fistulous affections of the poll and withers. 

 and with considerable success. The abscess having formed, and exit being »iven 

 to the imprisoned fluid it is allowed to discharge itself, for two or three days 

 being dressed with an ordinary digestive ointment. When the pus assumes a 

 laudable character, he introduces a few portions of the fibrous part of the 

 root, passing them down to the bottom of the sinus, and letting them remain 

 for a fortnight or more ; in the mean time, merely keeping the surrounding parts 

 clean. On examination it will be found that the healing process has commenced. 



Professor Morton adds, that an ointment, formed of the powder of either the 

 black or white Hellebore, in the proportion of one part of the powder to eight 

 of lard, will be found exceedingly active for the dressing of rowels and setons.* 



Hemlock is used by some practitioners, instead of digitalis or hellebore, in 

 affections of the chest, whether acute or chronic ; but it is inferior to both. 

 The dose of the powder of the dried leaves is about a drachm. 



Hydrargyrum:. — This metal is found native in many countries in the form 

 of minute globules. It also occurs in masses, and in different varieties of crys- 

 tallization. It has the singular property of being liquid in the natural tem- 

 perature of our earth. It freezes, or assumes a singular species of crystalliza- 

 tion, at 39° below of Fah., and at 660° above of Fah. it boils, and rapidly 

 evaporates. In its metallic state it appears to have no action on the animal 

 system, but its compounds are mostly powerful excitants, and some of them 

 are active caustics. 



The Common Mercurial Ointment may be used for ring-worm, and that spe- 

 cies of acarus which seems to be the source, or the precursor of, mange. The 

 compound mercurial ointment is also useful in the destruction of the same 

 insect. For most eruptions connected with or simulating mange, the author of 

 this work has been accustomed to apply the following ointment with consider- 

 able success: — 



Sublimed sulphur ..... 1 pound. 



Common turpentine . . . . 4 oz. 



Mercurial ointment . . . . 2 oz. 



Linseed oil ...... 1 pint. 



The Mercurial Ointment is prepared by rubbing quicksilver with lard, in the 

 proportion of one part of mercury to three of lard, until no globules appear. 

 The practitioner should, if possible, prepare it himself, for he can seldom get 

 it pure or of the proper strength from the druggist. It is employed with 

 considerable advantage in preparing splents, spavins, or other bony or callous 

 tumours, for blistering or firing. One or two drachms, according to the nature 

 and size of the swelling, may be daily well rubbed in; but it should be watched, 

 for it sometimes salivates the horse very speedily. The tumours more readily 

 disperse, at the application of a stronger stimulant, when they have been thus 

 prepared. Mercurial ointment in a weaker state is sometimes necessary for the 

 cure of mallenders and sallenders ; and in very obstinate cases of mange, one- 

 eighth part of mercurial ointment may be added to the ointment recommended 

 at page 477. 



Calomel, the submuriate or protochloride of mercury, may be given, combined 

 with aloes, in mange, surfeit, or worms. It is also useful in some cases of chronic 

 cough, in farcy, and in jaundice. Alone it has little purgative effect on the horse, 

 but it assists the action of other aperients. It is given in doses from a scruple 

 to a drachm. As soon as the gums become red, or the animal begins to quid or 

 drop his hay, it must be discontinued. Calomel has lately gained much 

 repute in arresting the progress of epidemic catarrh in the horse. Mr. Percivall 



* Morton's Manual of Pharmacy, p. 175, 



