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ZINC OINTMENT. SENSIBLE HORSES. 
of the bowels rather than active purgation : no less important 
is it to maintain an action of the skin, by doses of Dover’s 
powder or James’s powder, where the surface is dry. A 
valuable medicine, after the tongue has become clean, is 
bark and soda, five grains of each of which, combined with 
two of powdered colchicum, or without the colchicum, may 
be given thrice a day with the happiest effect. The iodide 
of potassium, too, often exerts great influence over sclerotitis, 
especially after it has become chronic. From three to five 
grains thrice a day, in a light bitter infusion, as that of hop, 
will often remove the lingering inflammation with great 
rapidity.” — From the ‘Association Medical Journal ,’ Jan . 28. 
ZINC OINTMENT. 
Our attention has been directed to the following remarks 
of Dr. Copland, Part xvi. of his Dictionary of Practical 
Medicine , p. 935, on the subject of zinc ointment: — 
“ Great care should be taken in this affection, as w r ell as 
in others for which ointments may be required, that they be 
recently made. In a case to which I was lately called, the 
zinc ointment was prescribed after the use of emollient appli- 
cations, and was found quite rancid and most injurious at 
five different Chemists in the outskirts of the town where it was 
had ; but when this ointment was procured from a respect- 
able chemist in tow T n, it was quite successful.” 
To guard against a recurrence of this accident, we would 
suggest that where the demand is small, it would be better 
not to keep the ointment ready, but to mix it when wanted. 
— Pharmaceut. Journal , Jan. 1853. 
SENSIBLE HORSES. 
Laing, in his Travels in Norway , says that the horses in 
that country have a very sensible way of taking their food. 
Instead of swilling themselves with a pailful of water at a 
draught, no doubt from the fear of not getting any again, and 
then overgorging themselves with dry food for the same 
reason ; they have a bucket of water put down beside their 
allowance of hay. It is amusing to see with what relish they 
take a sip of the one and a mouthful of the other alternately, 
sometimes only moistening their mouths, as a rational being 
would do while eating a dinner of such dry food. A broken- 
winded horse is scarcely ever seen in Norway. 
*** This is a practice we strongly recommend in our own 
stables. — Ed. Vet. 
