A LIST OF MEDICINES BELONGING TO THE HORSE, THEIR PROPERTIES AND USE.

ANTIMONY.

A compound of sulphor and antimony is a good alterative. It is given with sulphor and nitre in varying quantities.

SPASMODICS.

Of these opium stands first on our list, next peppermint, tincture of pimento, turpentine, camphor, asafœtida, &c.

SPIRITS OF CAMPHOR.

The spirits of camphor is made by taking 95 per cent. alcohol, put in as much gum camphor as it will dissolve.

VINEGAR.

Vinegar is a very useful application for sprains, bruises, &c. Equal parts of boiling water and cold vinegar will form a good fomentation; extract of lead or bay salt may be added with some advantage.

ALCOHOL—RECTIFIED SPIRITS.

This is used in making many tinctures and other preparations; 3 or 4 ounces of which are largely diluted with water, and given to a horse that has become fatigued while on a journey, will cause him to rally and cheerfully pursue his course to the end of the day’s travel.

AQUA-FORTIS.

This is a valuable external application for destroying fungus excrescences. A pledget of tar should be dipped in the acid, then firmly pressed on the cankerous surface. Every part with which the acid comes in contact will be deadened and slough off, when healthy granulations spring up.

SULPHURIC ACID.

Sulphuric acid is a good application for the thrush and canker, and in fact the only thing that can be relied on. It is occasionally used with tar in the proportion of an ounce of acid to 1 pound of tar.

ALOES.

The Barbadoes aloes is the best for the horse. They are of a dark brown color; they are very useful for physic, and the dose is from ½ to 1 ounce, which should be given immediately in cases where it is needed. They are also very useful in the form of a tincture, to make which 8 ounces of powdered aloes and 1 ounce of powdered myrrh, put into 2 quarts of alcohol diluted with an equal quantity of water. This mixture should be well shaken once a day for a fortnight, and be suffered to stand, in order that the undissolved portion may fall to the bottom. This constitutes an excellent application for wounds, whether recent or of long standing and indisposed to heal. It is not only a gentle stimulant but it forms a thin coat over the wound, and shields it from the action of the air.

ALUM.

Is occasionally used internally in cases of supurgation, in the form of alum whey:—two drachms of pulverized alum being put into a pint of hot milk; yet there are much better astringents. Its principal use is external. A solution of 2 drachms to a pint of water makes alone, or with the addition of a small quantity of white vitriol, a very useful wash for cracked heels, grease and those forms of swelled legs, attended with moisture through the skin.

MURIATIC ACID OR SPIRITS OF SALT.

This acid is very strong and should be bottled and corked tight. As soon as it touches any muscular or living part, a change of color is perceived. It is good for corns, canker thrush, and for every case where caustic is needed, this acid is unrivalled.

MUSTARD.

This will be found useful in inflammation of the chest or bowels. When using, it should be well rubbed on.

CANTHARIDES.

Are the basis of the most approved and useful blister. In blistering, the hair should be cut or rather shaved off close, then rubbing in the ointment well for at least 15 minutes, repeating it every day until it does its work. After it has acted you may relieve the torture of the animal by the application of olive oil or lard. In deep seated sprains or inflammations, the blister should not be discontinued too hurriedly. An infusion of 2 ounces of the flies in a pint of oil of turpentine for several days is used as a liquid blister, and when sufficiently reduced with common oil, is called a sweating oil, and gradually abates or removes old or deep inflammation or cause of lameness.

CHARCOAL.

This is occasionally used with linseed meal, for poulticing offensive ulcers and cracked heels; it removes the unwholesome smell and purifies the parts so that they heal easily.

BALL OR PILLS.

The usual and most convenient mode of administering medicines, is in the form of balls compounded with sweet oil. Balls should never weigh more than 1½ ounces, otherwise they will be so large as not to pass down the gullet. They should not be more than one inch in diameter, and three inches in length. The mode of delivering balls is not difficult to acquire. The horse should be backed in the stall, the tongue drawn out gently with the left hand on the off side of the mouth, not continuing to pull, but by pressing the finger against the lower jaw. The ball being now taken between the tips of the fingers of the right hand, is passed rapidly up the mouth as near the palate as possible, until it reaches the root of the tongue. It is then delivered with a slight jerk, the hand being immediately withdrawn. Its passage should be watched down the left side of the throat; if it does not pass down a slight tap under the jaw or chin, will generally cause the horse to swallow it, or a few gulps of water will convey in into the stomach. Very few balls should be kept made.

CLYSTERS.

These are useful and too often neglected means of hastening the bowels to their speedy action, where diseases require it. The old ox bladder filled and tied on the wooden or elder pipe, answers every purpose for injecting the fluid into the intestines. For a moderate clyster take 2 ounces of soft or yellow soap, mix with 1 gallon of warm water; for a more active clyster take ½ pound epsom salts, dissolve in the same quantity of water.

LINSEED.

An infusion of linseed is often used instead of water for the drink of a horse with a sore throat, catarrh, disease of the urinary organs, or of the bowels. Thin gruel is preferable, being as soothing and more nutritious. Linseed meal makes an excellent poultice for almost any purpose.

DIGITALIS.

This should be powdered, put into a black bottle, corked tight, and kept in a dark place. It is one of the most valuable medicines in veterinary practice, and on account of its action in diminishing the pulse and general irritability of the system, is very useful in inflammations, &c. It is usually given in combination with emetic tartar and nitre. The average dose is 1 drachm of digitalis, 1½ drachms emetic tartar, and 3 drachms of nitre, repeated twice or three times a day. When the horse begins to amend the dose must be diminished one-half, and in a few days it may be omitted altogether, but the emetic tartar and the nitre should be continued during several days.

PITCH.

Is used in plasters. The best plaster for sand crack consists of 1 pound of pitch and 1 ounce of yellow beeswax melted together.

MASHES.

Constitute a very important provender in sickness or health. A mash given occasionally to a horse that is fed on dry meat, prevents him from becoming dangerously costive. To the over-worked and tired horse, nothing is so refreshing as a warm mash, with his usual allowance of corn in it. Mashes are used for putting horses in good order for sale, giving him a round and plump appearance. They are made by pouring boiling water on bran, stirring it well; cover over with a cloth, and let it remain until cool enough for the horse to eat; if in the heat of summer, a cold mash is preferable,—yet it should be made with hot water, and remain until it is cold.

GINGER.

Is as valuable as a cordial as the gentian is as a tonic. These are both valuable in horse powders.

FOMENTATIONS.

Are to open the pores of the skin and promote perspiration in the part, so as to abate local swellings, relieve pain and lessen inflammation. The effect depends upon the warmth of the water and not upon any herb that may have been boiled in it; they are best applied by means of flannel dipped in the hot water, or on which the water is poured, which should be as hot as the hand will bear. The fomentation should be continued for 15 or 20 minutes, but if kept on with for half an hour will be better. The parts fomentated should be wrapped or covered up warm. Great good has sometimes resulted from fomentations.

GENTIAN.

Stands at the head of vegetable tonics, an infusion of which is one of the best applications for putrid ulcers known.

OPIUM.

Is the most valuable drug on the list as an anti-spasmodic; it is also a sedative and astringent. As an anti-spasmodic it enters into the colic drink; as a sedative it relaxes spasms of the muscular system. Opium should, however, be given with caution. In the early acute stage of fever it will be a bad practice to give it even in the smallest quantity. When the fever has passed it may be given with great benefit.

POULTICES.

Few persons are aware of the value of these simple applications in abating inflammation, relieving pain, cleansing wounds, and disposing them to heal. In all inflammations of the foot they are very beneficial, by softening the horn hardened by the heat of the inflamed foot.—Linseed meal forms the best general poultice.

DRINKS OR DRENCHES.

A drink is not so portable as a ball; it is more troublesome to administer, and a portion of it is usually wasted. Medicines given as a drench will act upon the horse much quicker than when given in balls, but the great objection is in wasting a portion. Too much of the drink should not be forced into the horse’s mouth at once, as it will be found very difficult to make him swallow large quantities; small portions should be given, which he should be made to swallow before any more is put into the mouth.

TAR.

Melted with an equal quantity of grease forms the usual stopping of the farrier. It is warm or slightly stimulant, and is therefore useful in dressing bruised or wounded feet; it prevents the penetration of dirt and water to the wounded part; it is also useful in chronic coughs.

LINIMENTS.

Are designed to remove deep seated pain and inflammation, by gently stimulating the skin. The following is an excellent liniment for old swellings, sprains, or rheumatism: 2 ounces of hartshorn, 2 ounces camphorated spirits, 1 ounce oil of turpentine, and ½ ounce of laudanum, mixed well together; or 1 ounce of camphor may be dissolved in 4 ounces of sweet oil, to which may be added 1 ounce of oil of turpentine. A little powdered cantharides or tincture of cantharides or ground mustard, will render either of these more powerful, or convert it into a liquid blister.

SULPHUR.

Is the basis of the most effectual application for mange. It is an excellent alterative, combined usually with antimony and nitre, particularly for mange, surfeit, grease, hidebound or want of condition, and it is a useful ingredient in the cough and fever ball.

COMMON SALT.

Is very useful in a clyster. A solution of it has been given as an aperient drink, sprinkled over hay or in mash, it is very palatable to sick horses; few things will so soon recall the appetite as a drink composed of 6 or 8 ounces of salt in solution. Horses in health, it promotes the digestion of the food. There are few better lotions for inflamed eyes than a solution of ½ ounce of salt, in 4 pints of water. An ounce of salt to 8 pints of water is a good embrocation for sore shoulders and back.

TURPENTINE.

The common liquid turpentine has been described as one of the best diuretics; for the removal of colic it stands unrivalled; with cantharides it is the basis of the sweating blister for old sprains and swellings.

CHLORIDE OF LIME.

This is very good for removing the smell of fistula, withers, poll evil and ill conditioned wounds and ulcerations. Chloride diluted with twenty times its quantity of water, and used as a wash for the wounds, will remove any infection that may lurk about them. One pint of the chloride, mixed with 3 gallons of water and brushed over the walls, manger and rack of the foulest stable, will completely remove all infections.

GINGER ROOT.

This is an excellent stimulant. It is useful in loss of appetite and flatulent colic, while it rouses the intestinal canal to its proper action. The ginger and gentian powdered is also very much used. Brown sugar is useful in the loss of appetite.

ZINC OR CALAMINE POWDER.

This made into an ointment is valuable for healing. Take five ounces of lard, one ounce of rosin, melt them together and when these begin to get cool, stir in 2 ounces of calamine, finely powdered. If the wound is not healthy, a small quantity of common turpentine may be added. This salve justly deserves the name of healing ointment. The calamine is sometimes sprinkled with advantage on cracked heels.

THOMPSON’S NO. 6.

This is a good carminative for relieving colic, arresting mortification, and for sprains, rheumatism, pains, &c. As a general stimulant it may be taken in teaspoonful doses in water and repeated as the case demands. Take ½ gallon of fourth proof brandy, ½ pound pulverized gum myrrh and ½ ounce of African pepper, mix and macerate for ten days, when it will be ready for use.