460 MEDICINES. 



the same quantity of camphorated spirit, an ounce of oil of tur- 

 pentine, 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 cantharides, 

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

 convert it into a liquid bhster. 



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. Thus gruel, however, 

 is preferable ; it is as bland and soothing, and it is more nutri- 

 tious. Linseed meal forms the best poultice for almost every pur- 



LuNAR Caustic.^ — See under Argentium. 



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 re- 

 peated before it will act, and then, although safer than aloes, it 

 may produce too much irritation in the intestinal canal, especially 

 if the fever is the precursor of inflammation of the lungs. 



Mashes, — constitute a very important part of horse-provender, 

 whether in sickness or health. A mash given occasionally to a 

 horse that is otherwise fed on dry meat prevents him from be- 

 coming dangerously costive. To the over- worked and tired horse, 

 nothing is so refreshing as a warm mash with his usual allow- 

 ance of corn in it. The art of getting a horse into apparent con- 

 dition for sale, or giving him a round and plump appearance, con- 

 sists principally in the frequent repetition of mashes, and, from 

 their easiness of digestion and the mild nutriment which they 

 afford, as well as their laxative effect, they form the principal 

 diet of the sick horse. 



They are made by pouring boiling water or bran, and stirring 

 it well, and then covering it over until it is sufiiciently cool for 

 she horse to eat. , If in the heat of summer a cold mash is pre- 

 ferred, it should, nevertheless, be made vidth hot water, and 

 then suffered to remain until it is cold. This is not always suf- 

 ficiently attended to by the groom, who is not aware that the 

 efficacy of the mash depends principally on the change which is 

 effected in the bran and the other ingredients by boiling water 

 rendering them more easy of digestion, as well as more aperient. 

 If the horse refuses the mash, a few oats may be sprinkled over 

 •■t. in order to tempt him to eat it ; but if it is previously designed 

 that com should be given in the mash, it should be scalded \vitb 



