MEDICINE. Sll 



Lead, Plumbum. — The Carbonate of Lead has a deleterious effect on the 

 biped and the quadruped in the neighbourhood of lead works. They are sub- 

 ject to violent griping pains, and to constipation that can with great difficulty, 

 or not all, be overcome. Something of the same kind is occasionally observed in 

 the cider counties, and the " painter's colic" is a circumstance of too frequent 

 occurrence — the occasional dreadful pains, and the ravenous appetite extending 

 to every thing that comes in the way of the animal. Active purgatives fol- 

 lowed by opium are the most effectual remedies. 



The Acetate of Lead, Plumbi Acetas. — Sugar of lead is seldom given exter- 

 nally to the horse, but is used as a collyrium for inflammation of the eyes. 



The Liquor Plumbi Subacetatis, or Goulard's Extract, or, as it used to be 

 termed at the Veterinary College, the Aqua Vegeto, is a better collyrium, and 

 advantageously used in external and superficial inflammation, and particularly 

 the inflammation that remains after the application of a blister. 



Lime was formerly sprinkled over cankered feet and greasy heels, but there 

 are less painful caustics, and more effectual absorbents of moisture. Lime-water 

 is rarely used, but the Chloride of Lime is exceedingly valuable. Diluted with 

 twenty times its quantity of water, it helps to form the poultice applied to 

 every part from which there is the slightest offensive discharge. The ftetid 

 smell of fistulous withers, poll-evil, canker, and ill-conditioned wounds, is im- 

 mediately removed, and the ulcers are more disposed to heal. When mangy 

 horses are dismissed as cured, a washing with the diluted chloride will remove 

 any infection that may lurk about them, or which they may carry from the 

 place in which they have been confined. One pint of the chloride mixed with 

 three gallons of water, and brushed over the walls and manger and rack of the 

 foulest stable, will completely remove all infection. Professor Morton, very 

 properly, says that the common practice of merely whitewashing the walls 

 serves only to cover the infectious matter, and perhaps to preserve it for an 

 indefinite length of time, so that when the lime scales off, disease may be again 

 engendered by the exposed virus. The horse furniture worn by a glandered or 

 mangy animal will be effectually purified by the chloride. Internally admi- 

 nistered, it seems to have little or no power. 



Liniments are oily applications of the consistence of a thick fluid, and 

 designed either to soothe an inflamed surface, or, by gently stimulating the skin, 

 to remove deeper-seated pain or inflammation. As an emollient liniment, one 

 composed of half an ounce of extract of lead and four ounces of olive oil will be 

 useful. For sprains, old swellings, or rheumatism, two ounces of hartshorn, 

 the same quantity of camphorated spirit, an ounce of oil of turpentine, and half 

 an ounce of laudanum, may be mixed together ; or an ounce of camphor may 

 be dissolved in four ounces of sweet oil, to which an ounce of oil of turpentine 

 may be afterwards added. A little powdered cantharides, or tincture of can- 

 tharides, or mustard powder, will render either of these more powerful, or 

 convert it into a liquid blister. 



Linseed. — An infusion of linseed is often used instead of water, for the drink 

 of the horse with sore-throat or catarrh, or disease of the urinary organs or of 

 the bowels. A pail containing it should be slung in the stable or loose box. 

 Thin gruel, however, is preferable ; it is as bland and soothing, and it is more 

 nutritious. Linseed meal forms the best poultice for almost every purpose. 



Magnesia. — The sulphate of magnesia, or Epsom Salts, should be used 

 only in promoting the purgative effect of clysters, or, in repeated doses of six or 

 eight ounces, gently to open the bowels at the commencement of fever. Some 

 doubt, however, attends the latter practice ; for the dose must occasionally be 

 thrice repeated before it will act, and then, although safer than aloes, it may 



