A mixture of chalk, saleratus, and soda is often given by farmers; yet they do not afford permanent relief. They do some good by correcting the acidity of the stomach; but the animals are often affected with diarrhoea, or costiveness, loss of appet.i.te, colic, and convulsions.
Attention to the diet would probably do more than all the medicine in the world. Yet if they do get sick, something must be done. The best forms of absorbents are the following: they restore healthy action to the lost function at the same time that they neutralize the gas.
FORMS OF ABSORBENTS.
Powdered charcoal, 1 table-spoonful.
" snakeroot, half a table-spoonful.
" caraways, 1 tea-spoonful.
Hot water, 1 quart.
Mix. To be given at one dose, for a cow; half the quant.i.ty, or indeed one third, is sufficient for a calf, sheep, or pig.
_Another._
Powdered charcoal, 1 table-spoonful.
To be given in thoroughwort tea, to which may be added a very small portion of ginger.
_Another, adapted to City Use._
Subcarbonate of soda, 1 tea-spoonful.
Tincture of gentian, 1 ounce.
Infusion of spearmint, 1 pint.
Mix. Give a cow the whole at a dose, and repeat daily, for a short time, if necessary. One half the quant.i.ty will suffice for a smaller animal.
_Drink for Coughs._
Balm of Gilead buds, half an ounce.
Honey, 2 table-spoonfuls.
Vinegar, 1 wine-gla.s.sful.
Water, 1 pint.
Set the mixture on the fire, in an earthen vessel; let it simmer a few minutes. When cool, strain, and it is fit for use. Dose, a wine-gla.s.sful, twice a day.
_Another._
Balsam copaiba, 1 ounce.
Powdered licorice, 1 ounce.
Honey, 2 table-spoonfuls.
Boiling water, 1 quart.
Rub the copaiba, licorice, and honey together in a mortar: after they are well mixed, add the water. Dose, half a pint, night and morning.
_Another._
Balsam of Tolu, half an ounce.
Powdered marshmallow roots, 1 ounce.
Honey, half a gill.
Boiling water, 2 quarts.
Min. Dose, half a pint, night and morning.
_Drink for a Cow after Calving._
Bethwort, 1 ounce.
Marshmallows, 1 ounce.
First make an infusion of bethwort by simmering it in a quart of water.
When cool, strain, and stir in the mallows. Dose, half a pint, every two hours.
VETERINARY MATERIA MEDICA,
EMBRACING A LIST OF THE VARIOUS REMEDIES USED BY THE AUTHOR OF THIS WORK IN THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE ON CATTLE, SHEEP, AND SWINE.
ACACIA, CATECHU, or j.a.pAN EARTH. It is a powerful astringent and tonic, and given, in half tea-spoonful doses, in mucilage of slippery elm or mallows, is a valuable remedy in diarrhoea, or excessive discharges of urine.
ACACIA GUM makes a good mucilage, and is highly recommended in diseases of the mucous surfaces and urinary organs. It is highly nutritious, and consequently can be given with advantage in locked-jaw.
ACETUM, (vinegar.) This is cooling, and a small portion of it, with an equal quant.i.ty of honey, administered in thin gruel, makes an excellent drink in fevers. Diluted with an equal quant.i.ty of water, it is employed externally in bruises and sprains. It neutralizes pestilential effluvia, and, combined with capsic.u.m, makes a good application for sore throat.
ACID, PYROLIGNEOUS. This is one of the most valuable articles in the whole _materia medica_. Diluted with equal parts of water, it is applied to ill-conditioned sores and ulcers; it acts as an antiseptic and stimulant. It is obtained from wood by destructive distillation in close vessels. This acid is advantageously applicable to the preservation of animal food. Mr. William Ramsay (_Edinburgh Philosophical Journal_, iii. 21) has made some interesting experiments on its use for this purpose. Herrings and other fish, simply dipped in the acid and afterwards dried in the shade, were effectually preserved, and, when eaten, were found very agreeable to the taste. Herrings slightly cured with salt, by being sprinkled with it for six hours, then drained, next immersed in pyroligneous acid for a few seconds, and afterwards dried in the shade for two months, were found by Mr. Ramsay to be of fine quality and flavor. Fresh beef, dipped in the acid, in the summer season, for the short s.p.a.ce of a minute, was perfectly sweet in the following spring. Professor Silliman states, that one quart of the acid added to the common pickle for a barrel of hams, at the time they are laid down, will impart to them the smoked flavor as perfectly as if they had undergone the common process of smoking.
ALDER BARK, BLACK, (_prinos verticillatus_.) A strong decoction makes an excellent wash for diseases of the skin, in all cla.s.ses of domestic animals.
ALLIUM, (garlic.) This is used chiefly as an antispasmodic. It improves all the secretions, and promotes the function of the skin and kidneys. It is useful also to expel wind and worms. A few kernels may be chopped fine and mixed with the food. When used for the purpose of expelling worms, an ounce of the root should be boiled in a pint of milk, and given in the morning, about an hour before feeding.
ALOES. The best kind is brought from the Island of Socotra, and is supposed to be more safe in its operation than the other kinds. In consequence of the irritative properties of aloes, they are ill adapted to cattle practice; and as a safer article has been recommended, (see _Physic for Cattle_,) we have entirely dispensed with them.
ALTHEA, (marshmallows.) See _Remarks on Poultices_.
ALUM. It possesses powerful astringent properties, and, when burnt and pulverized, is useful to remove proud flesh.
AMMONIAc.u.m. Gum ammoniac.u.m is useful for chronic coughs. The dose is two drachms daily, in a quart of gruel.
ANISEED. A good carminative in flatulent colic. The dose is about one ounce, infused in a quart of boiling water.
ANTHEMIS, (camomile.) It is used as a tonic in derangement of the digestive organs, &c. An ounce of the flowers may be infused in a quart of water, and given when cool. It is useful also as an external application in bruises and sprains.
ASH BARK, WHITE. This is a useful remedy in loss of cud, caused by disease of the liver. Dose, one ounce of the bark, infused in boiling water. When cool, pour off the clear liquor.
a.s.sAFOETIDA. This article is used as an antispasmodic. The dose is from one to two drachms, administered in thin gruel.
BALM, LEMON. See _Fever Drink_.