466 MEDICINES. 



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 sicli 

 horses ; and in that languor and disinclination to food which re- 

 main after severe illness, few things will so soon recall the appe- 

 tite 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, condi 

 tion. Externally applied, there are few better lotions for in 

 flamed eyes than a solution of half a drachm of salt in four ounce^ 

 of water. In the proportion of an ounce of salt to the same quan- 

 tity of water, it is a good embrocation for sore shoulders and 

 backs ; and if it does not always disperse warbles and tumors, it 

 takes away much of the tenderness of the skin. 



SoDiE Sulphas, — Sulphate of Soda. — Glauber's Salt. — This 

 medicine is seldom used in the treatment of the horse. It ap- 

 pears to have some diuretic property. 



Soap, — is supposed to possess a diuretic quality, and therefore 

 enters into the composition of some diuretic masses. See Resin. 

 By many practitioners it is made an ingredient in the physic-ball, 

 but uselessly or injuriously so ; for if the shoes are finely powdered 

 and mixed with palm oil, they will dissolve readily enough in the 

 bowels without the aid of the soap, while the action of the soap 

 on the kidneys will impair the purgative effect of the aloes. 



Spanish Fly, — See Oantharides. 



Starch, — ^may be substituted with advantage for gruel in ob- 

 stinate cases of purging, both as a clyster, and to support the 

 strength of the animal. 



Stoppings, — constitute an important, but too often neglected 

 part of stable management. If a horse is irregularly or seldom 

 worked, his feet are deprived of moisture ; they become hard and 

 unyielding and brittle, and disposed to com and contraction and 

 founder. The very dung of a neglected and filthy stable would be 

 preferable to habitual standing on the cleanest litter without stop- 

 ping. In wounds, and bruises, and corns, moisture is even more ne- 

 cessary, in order to supple the horn, and relieve its pressure on the 

 tender parts beneath. As a common stopping, nothing is better 

 than cow-dung with a fourth part of clay weU beaten into it, and 

 confined with splents from the binding or larger twigs of the 

 broom. In cases of wounds, a little tar may be added ; but tar, 

 as a common stopping, is too stimulating and drying. Pads made 

 of thick felt have lately been contrived, which are fitted to the 

 sole, and, swelling on being wetted, are sufficiently confined by 

 ■ the shoe. Having been well saturated with water, they will 

 continue moist during the night. They are very useful in gen- 

 tlemen's stables ; but the cnw-dung and clay are sufficient for the 

 farmer 



