142 
Supplement  to  the  “ Tropical  Agriculturid.  ’ [Aug.  1,  1895. 
iu  sheep,  arsenic  is  the  chief  ingredient  in  the 
dipping  mixture  ; a very  useful  dipping  mixture 
is  prepared  by  taking  eight  ounces  each  of  arse- 
nioiis  acid  and  carbonate  of  potassium,  six 
ounces  each  of  soap  and  sulphur,  and  boiling 
the  whole  in  twenty  gallons  of  water.  This 
(juantity  is  sufficient  to  dip  twenty  sheep. 
For  internal  administration  arsenious  acid  is 
generally  mixed  with  the  food ; but  a solution 
of  arsenic  is  prepared  by  heating  together  four 
grains  each  of  arsenious  acid  and  potassium  car- 
bonate to  an  ounce  of  water.  Tuson  gives  the 
doses  as  follows ; — Horses  and  cattle  take  from 
o to  10  grains,  sheep  1 to  2 grains,  and  dogs  V 
to  of  a grain.  The  liquor  as  prepared  above 
is  given  to  horses  and  cattle  one  to  two  fluid 
ounces,  sheep  ^ to  3 drams,  dogs  o to  20  minims. 
The  liquor  is  always  given  diluted  in  a suffi- 
cient quantity  of  water  to  form  a draught. 
Lime, — Calcium  oxide.  Sing,  himu,  Tam. 
skunambu.  Lime  is  prepared  by  burning  lime- 
stone, coral  or  marble.  Burnt  lime  or  what  is 
commonly  known  as  quicklime  takes  up  a 
certain  quantity  of  water  when  added  to  it  and 
forms  calcuim  hydrate.  Lime  water,  which  is 
much  used  in  medicine,  is  prepared  by  stirring 
(piicklime  in  water,  and  filtering  or  decanting 
the  liquor.  When  thus  prepared  it  is  a colour- 
less inodorous  liquor,  possessing  a peculiar  alka- 
line taste.  AVhen  lime  water  is  exposed  to 
air  a thin  film  or  layer  is  formed  on  the  top  of 
it  consequent  on  the  combination  of  the  lime, 
with  the  carbonic  acid  gas  of  the  air.  Lime  water 
also  turns  milky  if  the  air  from  the  lungs  is 
blown  into  it. 
Lime  is  an  irritant,  it  has  a corrosive  action, 
it  prevents  acidity.  Both  slaked  lime  and  lime 
water  are  used  as  antacids  iu  diseases  of  animals, 
the  more  useful  and  handy  preparation  being 
the  lime  water.  In  indigestion  and  hoven  it  is 
given  with  much  benefit.  Young  calves  suffering 
from  diarrhoea  are  given  milk  diluted  with  >50%  of 
lime  water  with  very  beneficial  results.  In  vo- 
mitting  in  dogs  lime  water  often  proves  useful. 
Externally  equal  parts  of  lime  water  and  oil 
form  a very  useful  application  in  burns  and 
scalds.  This  mixture  is  commonly  known  as 
carron  oil.  Horses  and  cattle  take  from  one  to 
two  drams  of  quick  lime  and  dogs  five  to 
twenty  grains.  Four  to  five  ounces  lime  water  are 
given  to  cattle  and  horses  and  two  to  eight 
drams  to  calves  and  dogs. 
Calcium  carbonate.  Sing,  ratahunu.  Pure 
chalk  though  not  met  with  naturally  here,  is 
imported  largely  and  is  easily  procured  at  any 
bazaar.  It  is  prepared  for  medicinal  purposes 
by  finely  powdering  the  crude  substance  and 
triturating  in  water,  thereby  removing  the  coarse 
particles  ‘ of  foreign  matter  which  are  often 
found  with  it.  When  thus  prepared  it  is  of 
a dull  white  colour,  .vs  porous  and  has  an  afli- 
nity  for  water.  Chalk  is  very  useful  in  the 
treatment  of  indigestion,  chronic  diarriuea,  and 
dysentery.  E.xternally  the  powder  may  be  used 
a.s  a reliable  desiccant  for  wounds. 
Dose  for  a horse,  one  to  two  ounces  : cattle, 
two  to  four  ounces  ; dogs,  eight  to  twelve  grains. 
Jt  is  best  given  with  milk  or  conjee.  Chalk 
when  given  in  large  <|uantities  .should  be  followed 
by  a laxative.  It  may  with  advantage  be  given 
in  cases  of  diarrhoea  with  catechu,  and  in  indiges- 
tion with  ginger  and  coriander.  In  dysentry, 
when  much  pain  is  evinced.  Opium  and  chalk 
form  a useful  compound. 
xh)umniiim  Chloride. — Sal  ammoniac.  Sing.  Nnva- 
saran.  Is  met  with  in  the  bazaars  in  a more  or 
le.ss  crude  state.  It  is  prepared  by  adding  hydro- 
chloric acid  to  “ gas  licpioF’  and  evajioratiiig  the 
e.xcess  of  water.  The  salt  is  of  a filiroiis  structure 
and  has  a “ .saltish”  acid  taste.  It  di.ssolves  readily 
in  water.  Large  doses  of  this  drug  are  poisonous 
to  animals.  In  medicinal  doses  it  is  a useful 
stimulant,  it  also  promotes  the  secretion  of  urine 
and  sweat  and  increases  the  action  of  all  glands. 
Ammonium  chloride  is  given  with  good  results 
in  fevers,  pneumonia,  diarrhoea,  rheumatism  and 
dropsj.  E.xternally  a solution  of  the  drug  is  a 
stimulant  to  bruises  and  sprains  ; a useful  cooling 
lotion  is  made  by  dissolving  equal  parts  of 
ammonium  chloride  and  nitre  iu  cold  water. 
Doses : horses  and  cattle  take  from  5 to  1|  ounces 
and  dogs  five  to  twenty  grains. 
Sulj)hate  of  Magnesia. — Epsom  salts.  Sing,  limu 
(purgative).  The  vernacular  terra  for  Epsom  salts 
is  the  same  word  as  is  applied  to  any  salt,  but  in 
the  bazaars  it  is  known  under  the  name  of  “ purga- 
tive” salts.  It  is  found  in  its  natural  state  in 
certain  mineral  waters,  but  is  generally  prepared 
from  the  mineral  magnesite  by  treating  it  witli 
sulphuric  acid.  The  salt  as  found  in  the  native 
bazaars  is  often  in  the  form  of  large  rhombic 
crystals,  but  sometimes  the  crystals  are  small, 
much  resembling  sugar.  It  has  a nauseous  salitie 
bitter  taste,  and  a cool  sensation  is  felt  when  a 
crystal  of  the  salt  is  placed  on  the  tongue. 
Magnesium  sulphate  is  a purgative  and  a useful 
febrifuge.  For  cattle  and  other  ruminants  it  is  the 
best  known  purgative,  though  it  is  not  advisable 
to  give  purgative  doses  of  the  drug  to  hor.so.s.  In 
this  animal  it  has  certain  ill-effects,  inasmuch  ns 
it  is  often  productive  of  gripe.  Cattle  take  from 
one  to  two  pounds  as  a purgative.  Horses  two  to 
three  ounces  a.s  a febrifuge. 
Sulphate  of  Iron, — Green  vitriol,  Sing,  dnndiredi. 
Is  met  with  in  the  bazaars  in  the  form  of  green 
crystals.  It  is  obtained  by  dissolving  iron  in  sul- 
phuric acid,  but  more  frequently  got  in  large 
quantities  by  treating  ferruginous  shale  with  the 
acid.  The  crystals  of  iron  sulphate  are  of  a 
bluish  green  colour  and  on  exposure  deposit  a 
white  powder. 
In  large  doses  this  drug  is  an  irritant,  but  medi- 
cinal do.ses  act  as  a very  useful  tonic  in  debility. 
It  is  an  astringent  in  diarrhcea,  and  is  also  given 
with  advantage  in  diabetes  and  dysentery.  Doses: 
horses  and  cattle  one  to  two  drams  and  dogs  one  to 
ten  grains. 
W.  A.  D.  S. 
LADY  BIRDS. 
Lady-birds  belong  to  the  family  (bccinellidm, 
of  the  order  Celeoptera.  They  may  be  shortly 
described  as  follows  Hemispherical ; upper  side 
convex;  under  side  flattened;  head  small,  re- 
tractile; antenna)  eleven-jointed,  thickened  at  thiur 
lips;  legs  short;  feet  apparently  three-jointed, 
the  second  joint  being  very  small ; colour  usually 
variegated,  many  species  Idack  with  red,  or  red 
with  black  spots.  When  grasped  tlie  insects  emit 
a yellowish  unpleasant-smelling  fluid  from  the 
