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.