The Farmers Own Book 9

The Farmers Own Book 9

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.