634 MEDICINES. 



Potassium, Iodide of, 



stimulates the glands and acts internally as an antiseptic (p. 127). 

 Dose, 1^ to 2 oz. during the day. It may be dissolved in the 

 drinking water, or mixed in a mash. When added to iodine or 

 biniodide of mercury, it increases its solubility. It is useful, 

 in the form of an ointment (1 to 6 of lard), as an absorbent 

 application. 



Poultices 



are valuable as soothing applications, and also for cleansing 

 wounds, in which case they should be always combined with a 

 mild antiseptic (p. 67), because their warmth and moisture are 

 particularly favourable to the development of putrefactive and in- 

 fective microbes. They should be large, and should on no account 

 be allowed to get dry. 



For applying poultices to the feet, a poultice shoe, constructed 

 as foWows, may be used with advantage. Take a circular piece of 

 hard wood, a little longer and broader than a horse shoe, and 

 about 1^ inches thick.. Get one surface of it rounded in a lathe, 

 so that there may be a rise of about f inch in the centre, while the 

 other surface remains flat. Round the circumference of the board 

 have leather nailed so as to form a convenient boot for retaining 

 the poultice, and similar to the one in ordinary use, except that 

 the part which comes on the ground is rounded. The fact of its 

 being round will enable the horse, to whose foot it is applied, to 

 ease the affected spot by throwing weight on the toe, the heel, or 

 on either quarter, as he chooses. 



The best poultices for general use are those made with turnips, 

 carrots, or linseed meal. Bran, though light and convenient, dries 

 quickly, which defect may be remedied by adding a little linseed 

 oil after mixing the bran with hot water. 



To make a carrot or turnip poultice, boil a convenient quantity 

 of these roots and then mash them up. 



Bread Poultice. 

 Take a sufficiency of the crumb, place it in a basin, pour boiling 

 water over it and cover it up for a few minutes. The water should 

 be poured off and fresh boiling water added. It will then be ready 

 for use. The change of water is made so as to get rid of the salts 

 which are contained in the bread. 



Charcoal Poultice. 



Wood charcoal, in powder ... ... | oz. 



Linseed meal ' ... ... ... ... 3§ „ 



Boiling water ... ... ... ... | pint. 



