MEDICINE. 51S 



render them slightly stimulant. Internally it is a useful diuretic, and is given 

 in doses of five or six drachms made into a ball with soft soap. The common 

 liquid turpentine is, however, preferable. 



Rowels. — The manner of rowelling has been already described. As 

 exciting inflammation on the surface, and so lessening that which had pre- 

 viously existed in a neighbouring but deeper-seated part, they are decidedly 

 inferior to blisters, for they do not act so quickly or so extensively ; therefore 

 they should not be used in acute inflammation of the lungs or bowels, or any 

 vital part. When the inflammation, however, although not intense, has long 

 continued, rowels will be serviceable by producing an irritation and discharge 

 that can be better kept up than by a blister. As promoting a permanent, 

 although not very considerable discharge, and some inflammation, rowels in the 

 thighs are useful in swelled legs, and obstinate grease. If fluid is thrown out 

 under the skin in any other part, the rowel acts as a permanent drain. When 

 sprain of the joint or the muscles of the shoulders is suspected, a rowel in the 

 chest will be serviceable. The wound caused by a rowel will readily heal, and 

 with little blemish, unless the useless leather of the farrier has been inserted. 



Secale cornutum, the Ergot of Rye. — This is well known to be an excitant 

 in assisting parturition in cattle, sheep, and dogs. It lias been used with suc- 

 cess in the mare by Mr. Richardson, of Lincoln. It should only be applied in 

 difficult cases, and the dose should be two drachms, combined with some car- 

 minative, and given every hour. 



Sedatives are medicines that subdue irritation, repress spasmodic action, 

 or deaden pain. We will not inquire whether they act first as stimulants : if 

 they do, their effect is exceedingly transient, and is quickly followed by de- 

 pression and diminished action. Digitalis, hellebore, opium, turpentine, are 

 medicines of this kind. Their effect in different diseases or stages of disease, 

 and the circumstances which indicate the use of any one of them in preference 

 to the rest, are considered under their respective titles. 



Soda. — The Carbonate of Soda is a useful antacid, and probably a diuretic, 

 but it is not much used in veterinary practice. The Chloride of Soda is not so 

 efficacious for the removal of unpleasant smells and all infection as the chloride 

 of lime ; but it is exceedingly useful in changing malignant and corroding and 

 destructive sores into the state of simple ulcers, and, in ulcers that are not ma- 

 lignant it much hastens the cure. Poll evil and fistulous withers are much 

 benefited by it, and all farcy ulcers. It is used in the proportion of one part of 

 the solution to twenty-four of water. 



Sodii Chloridum, Common Salt, is very extensively employed in veterinary 

 practice. It forms an efficacious aperient clyster, and a solution of it has been 

 given as an aperient drink. Sprinkled over the hay, or in a mash, it is very 

 palatable to sick horses ; and in that languor and disinclination to food which 

 remain after severe illness, few things will so soon recall the appetite as a drink 

 composed of six or eight ounces of salt in solution. To horses in health it is more 

 useful than is generally imagined, as promoting the digestion of the food, and, 

 consequently, condition. Externally applied, there are few better lotions for 

 inflamed eyes than a solution of half a drachm of salt in four ounces of water. 

 In the proportion of an ounce of salt to the same quantity of water, it is 

 a good embrocation for sore shoulders and backs ; and if it does not always 

 disperse warbles and tumours, it takes away much of the tenderness of the 

 skin. 



Sodm Sulphas, — Sulphate of Soda. — Glauber's Salt. — This medicine is seldom 

 used in the treatment of the horse. It appears to have some diuretic 

 property. 

 Soap is supposed to possess a diuretic quality, and therefore enters into t lie 



