MEDICINES. 447 



mlo a poultice witn linseed meal, and applied to foul and oifea- 

 sive ulcers, and to cracked heels. It removes the fcetid and un 

 wholesome smell that occasionally proceeds from them. 



Charges, — are thick, adhesive plasters spread over parts thai 

 have been strained or weakened, and, being applied to the skin, 

 adhere for a considerable time. The followmg mixture makes 



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- thickening beneath ; and, acting as a constant bandage 

 it gives tone and strength to the part. 



Chlouide of Lime, — see under Lime. 



Chloroform, — see note.* 



Cl'ysters. — 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 oimces of soft or yellow soap, dissolved in a gallon of 

 warm water, wiU. form a useful aperient clyster. It will detach 

 or dissolve many irritating substances 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 pre- 

 viously 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 



* Note by Mr. Spooner. — Chloroform, or the perchloride of formyle, ha« 

 been found to be a better anaesthetic agent than sulphuric ether, and ha9 

 also been used internally for spasms of the bowels. The objection to ita 

 use as a de-stroyer of sensation is the quantity required to be taken, 

 amounting, indeed, to several ounces. The writer has employed it succe.<<i> 

 fully in many operations 



