Soap. This article acts on all classes of animals, as a laxative and antacid. It is useful in obstinate constipation of the bowels, in diseases of the liver, and for softening hardened excrement in the rectum. By combining castile soap with butternut, blackroot, golden seal, or balmony, a good aperient is produced, which will generally operate on the bowels in a few hours.
Squill, (scilla maritima.) A tea-spoonful of the dried root, given in a thin mucilage of marshmallows, is an excellent remedy for cough, depending on an irritability of the lungs and mucous surfaces.
Sulphur. This is one of the most valuable articles in the veterinary materia medica. It possesses laxative, diaphoretic and alterative properties, and is extensively employed, both internally and externally, for diseases of the skin. The dose for a cow is a tea-spoonful daily. Its alterative effect may be increased by combining it with sassafras, (which see.)
Sunflower, Wild, (helianthus divaricatus.) The seeds of this plant, when bruised and given it any bland fluid, act as a diuretic and antispasmodic. Half a table-spoonful of the seeds may be given at a dose, and repeated as occasion requires.
Tolu, Balsam of. This balsam is procured by making incisions into the trunk of a tree which flourishes in Tolu and Peru. It has a peculiar tendency to the mucous surfaces, and therefore is very properly prescribed for epizoötic diseases of catarrhal nature. The dose is half a table-spoonful every night, to be administered in a mucilage of marshmallows. One half the quantity is sufficient for a sheep.
Vinegar. See Acetum.
Witch Hazel Bark, (hamamelis virginica.) A decoction of this bark is a valuable application for falling of the fundament, or womb. Being a good astringent, an infusion of the leaves is good for scouring in sheep.
Wormseed, (chenopodium anthelminticum.) A tea-spoonful of the powdered seeds, given in a tea of snakeroot, is a good vermifuge: it will, however, require repeated doses, and they should be given at least an hour before the morning meal.