Take 1 pound of tar and 1 pound of tallow, mix them with ½ pound of common turpentine in a stone ware dish; stir them until they are thoroughly mixed together. This is an excellent dressing for sore hoofs, for horses and oxen.
This embrocation may be used without taking the hair off. Take
2 ounces spirits of hartshorn, 2 “ oil of turpentine, 2 “ spirits of camphor, 1 “ laudanum.
Mix well and put into a bottle; keep it well corked.
Take the green leaves of elder, if they can be had; if not, take of the inside bark any quantity and lard in proportion to the elder, then fry to a crisp, which will be found very efficacious in healing sores, scalds, burns, sprains, or any humorous swelling. The elder alone fried in the same manner and strained, makes a much better ointment. This is worth making and keeping on hand, as its cost is a mere trifle.
For curing the above disease dress with mercurial ointment two or three times, and then with iodine ointment. To make mercurial ointment, take 1 ounce of quicksilver to 3 ounces of lard, beat both together until thoroughly mixed. Iodine ointment is made by mixing equal quantities of iodine and mercurial ointment well together.
The following prescription will make an excellent powder for ordinary purposes. Take
2 pounds sulphor of brimstone, 2 “ cream of tartar, 1 “ antimonia, 1 “ saltpetre.
The dose of this mixture is 1 table spoonful morning and evening.
The Spanish fly in its action is intense, yet superficial. It plentifully raises the cuticle, yet rarely injures the true skin and therefore seldom blemishes. The application of other acrid substances is occasionally followed by deeply seated ulceration; but a blister composed of the Spanish fly alone, while it does its duty, leaves, after a few weeks have passed, scarcely a trace behind. The art of blistering consists in cutting or rather shaving the hair close, then rubbing on the ointment at least ten minutes. As soon as the vesicles have risen, which will be in something like 20 hours, you may relieve the animal by the application of olive or neatsfoot oil. In inflammation of the lungs, &c., it should be made to act sooner. The principle of the blister is, that no intense inflammation can exist in the neighboring parts at the same time. An infusion of 2 ounces of the flies in 1 pint of oil of turpentine, for several days, is frequently used, and with good effect. This is a sure and safe remedy. If in the winter blanket the horse to keep him warm until he is over it; put a blanket over the head also if very cold.