112 
EFFECTS OF MEDICINE ON HORSES. 
his patient, as well as in some measure succeeds in opening the 
bowels ; and he has it in his power to regulate or divide his doses 
in that manner that he can produce these effects tardily or quickly, 
mildly or violently, according to the emergencies of his case. Its 
signal service in human medicine, its known prompt and violent 
action on the human stomach and intestines, and its influence on the 
skin as well, have naturally raised great expectations of its efflcacy 
on animals. As far as horses are concerned — and farther I cannot 
myself speak — I am afraid these expectations have been disap- 
pointed. Professor Coleman used to say, that emetic tartar took 
no effect whatever on horses, even in the largest doses. In spite 
of this denunciation, however, it has been, and continues to be, 
pretty generally used in veterinary medicine, though with what 
amount of benefit, or with what specific efficacy, it would, I have a 
notion, puzzle many of us to demonstratively point out. I have 
been myself for years in the habit of employing it as a febrifuge, 
and I now likewise prescribe it in pulmonic affections, in combi- 
nation with nitre ; and I really think I thereby cause, with the as- 
sistance of clothing, some augmented action of the excretions of the 
skin ; and I know that I produce diuresis, and, after long continuance, 
also occasion some augmentation of the secretions of the mucous 
coat of the bowels. After all, however, this febrifuge medicine is 
never placed farther reliance upon by me than as an adjunct to 
measures of undisputed efficacy, or by itself as a cooling remedy, 
where naught but a little febrile disorder is to be overcome. I 
give it in doses of a drachm and two drachms, which, considering 
its administration to man in divisions of a grain, cannot be regarded 
as being very small. It is no legitimate argument that, because a 
horse in health may take an ounce, or even a pound, without 
harm, in a state of fever or other disease, he may not be susceptible 
of the operation of small doses frequently repeated ; else how comes 
it that several persons have been known to take drachm doses with 
less effect than at another time even grains would have had upon 
them. 
While of little palpable efficacy given internally, it seems 
strange that emetic tartar should take effect when applied upon 
the skin of a horse, much the same as it does upon the cutis of man. 
With an ointment containing no more than a drachm of antimony 
to an ounce of lard, the skin cannot be rubbed many times before 
it becomes pustulous, knotty to the feel, and tender, and ultimately 
scurfy, from the desiccation of the pustules. Bareness from loss of 
hair, and soreness, will follow, should the perfrications be persisted 
in. And the stronger the ointment, or the more frequent the per- 
frications, the sooner, of course, are these effects produced. In one 
instance I knew it produce vesication. According to some French 
