THE VETERINARY ART IN INDIA. 
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calomel. In diuretics we are, however, more successful, as the 
kidneys are operated on with more ease than any other internal 
part. The turpentines are of this class, from which we find the 
most extensive benefit ; and however arbitrary the name of diu- 
retic may be, the good effects produced are certainly not from 
the simple operation of increasing the discharge from the blood, 
but they acton a much more extensive scale, of which the diuretic 
is only a part. In fine, the operation of that class of medicine 
generally termed diuretic is of such consequence to the horse, 
that I shall appropriate to it a distinct section ; previous to which 
I shall make a few observations on the general operations of 
medicine. 
The action of medicine on the horse, like his diseases, is not 
so complicated as in the human subject. Providence having 
limited their operation, has, with her usual regularity, also limited 
the number of diseases incident to the animal, which probably 
arises from the peculiar structure and economy of the horse’s 
stomach ; while the extreme sensibility and universal sympathy 
of the human stomach must produce more numerous forms of 
disease. 
Medicine, like disease, is divided into two classes. The 
first comprises those which are stimulant, and more or less dif- 
fusible ; and the second those which are cooling and soothing 
in their effects. These classes may be added to those ingredients 
that have no particular quality, and are used as simple diet, which 
include the more common food, as rice, bread, milk, vegetables, 
&c., which stimulate, from their bulk and separation, in the sto- 
mach and bowels, rather than by their medical property. Thus, 
medicines of the stimulant class are employed when the action 
of the system is languid, and requires to be increased; while 
cooling and emollient drugs are used to soothe and reduce the 
system when the energy is too high. Those articles which have not 
much of either of those qualities, and what the habit in the state 
of health has been accustomed to, are proper for the healthy state. 
The stimulant class comprises the turpentines and resins, 
which operate as diuretics ; and calomel and aloes as purgatives. 
These are the particular stimulants of the kidneys and bowels. 
The more general stimulants internally employed include the 
diuretics beforementioned, opium, tartar emetic, blue vitriol, 
and camphor. Externally the turpentines, mercurial ointment, 
preparations of lead, white vitriol, blue vitriol, oil of vitriol, tar, 
spirits of wine, camphor, mango leaves, rowels, setons, &c. 
As emollients and refrigerants, we have recourse to softening 
clysters and the use of nitre internally. Externally, soft foment- 
ations ; to which we add, as refrigerants, tamarind leaves, vine- 
