MEDICINES. 463 



practice The Nitrate of Potash {Nitre) is a valualle cooling 

 medicine and a mild diuretic, and, therefore, it should enter into 

 the composition of every fever-hall. Its dose is from two to four 

 drachms. Grooms often dissolve it in the water. There are two 

 ohjections to this : either the horse is nauseated and will not drink 

 so much water as he ought ; or the salt taste of the water causes 

 considerable thirst, and disinclination to solid food. Nitre, whilst 

 dissolving, materially lowers the temperature of water, and fur- 

 nishes a very cold and useful lotion for sprain of the back-sinews, 

 and other local inflammations. The lotion should be used as soon 

 as the salt is dissolved, for it quickly becomes as warm as the 

 surrounding air. The Bitartrate of Potash {Cream of Tartar) 

 is a mild diuretic, and, combined with JEthiop's mineral, is used 

 as an alterative in obstinate mange or grease. The objection, 

 however, to its use in such an animal as the horse, is the little 

 power which it seems to exercise. 



Poultices. — Few horsemen are aware of the value of these 

 simple applications in abating inflammation, relieving pain, cleans- 

 ing wounds, and disposing them to heal. They are applications 

 of the best kind continued much longer than a simple fomentation 

 can be. In all inflammations of the foot they are very beneficial, 

 by softening the horn hardened by the heat of the foot and con- 

 tracted and pressing on the internal and highly sensible parts. 

 The moisture and warmth are the useful quahties of the poultice ; 

 and that poultice is the best for general purposes in which moisture 

 and warmth are longest retained. Perspiration is most abundantly 

 promoted in the part, the pores are opened, swellings are relieved, 

 and discharges of a healthy nature procured from wounds. 



Linseed meal forms the best general poultice, because it longest 

 retains the moisture. Bran, although frequently used for poultices, 

 is objectionable, because it so soon becomes dry To abate con- 

 siderable inflammation, and especially in a wounded part, (ioulard 

 may be added, or the linseed meal may be made into a paste with 

 a decoction of poppy-heads. To promote a healthy discharge 

 from an old or foul ulcer ; or separation of the dead from the liv- 

 ing parts, in the process of what is called coring out ; or to hasten 

 the ripening of a tumor that must be opened ; or to cleanse it 

 when it is opened, — ^two ounces of common turpentine may be 

 added to a pound of linseed meal : but nothing can be so absurd, 

 or is so injurious, as the addition of turpentine to a poultice that 

 Is designed to be an emollient. The drawing poultices and stop- 

 pings of farriers are often highly injurious, instead of abating 

 inflammation. 



If the ulcer smells ofiensively, two ounces of powdered char- 

 coal may be added to the linseed meal, or the poultice may be 

 made of v/ater, to which a solution of the chloride of lime has 



