MEDICINES. 4'i] 



Deadly Nightshade, — extract of, see BelladonnjE Extrac- 



T-JM. 



Demulcents, — are substances that have the power of dimin- 

 ishing the effect of acrimonious or stimulating substances. Tho 

 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 perspiration of the animal. As it regards the horse, 

 they are neither many nor 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 assist- 

 ed 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 

 be 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 so- 

 lution of blue vitriol is an excellent digestive ; so is the tincture 

 of aloes, and the tincture of myrrh. The best digestive oint- 

 ment is one composed of three parts of calamine ointment (Tur- 

 ner's cerate) and one of common turpentine. 



Digitalis — Fox-Glove. — The leaves of the common fox-glove, 

 gathered about the flowering time, dried carefully in a dark 

 place, and powdered, and kept in a close black bottle, f(jrm one of 

 the most valuable medicines in veterinary practice. It is a direct 

 and powerful sedative, diminishing the frequency of 'the pulse, 

 and the general irritability of the system, and acting also as a 

 mild diuretic : it is therefore useful in every inflammatory and 

 febrile complaint, and particularly in inflammation of the chest. 

 It is usually given in combination -wiiii emetic tartar and nitre 

 The average dose is one drachm of digitalis, one and a half ofemet 

 if; tartar, and three of nitre, repeated twice or thrice in a day. 

 Digitalis seems to have an immediate effect on the heart, less- 

 ening the number of its pulsations ; bat effecting this in a singular 

 manner — ^not by causing the heart to beat more slowly, but produ- 

 cing certain intermissions or pauses in its action. When these 

 become marked — when at every sixth or seventh beat, the pulsa- 

 tions are suspended while two- or three can be slowly counted,- this 

 is precisely the effect that is intended to be produced, and, how- 

 ever ill the horse may appear to be, or however alaiming this in- 



