The medicines used in the treatment of the diseases of cattle, are
essentially the same as those in vogue for the diseases of the human
being and the horse,--the only difference being in their combination and
the quantities administered.
ABSORBENTS.--Medicines which destroy acidities in the stomach and
bowels; such as chalk, magnesia, etc.
ALTERATIVES.--Medicines which restore the healthy functions of
secretion, by gradually changing the morbid action in an impaired
constitution. Those in most common use are AEthiops mineral, antimony,
rosin, sulphur, etc., which form the principal ingredients in all
condition-powders, and are chiefly useful in diseases of the skin, such
as hide-bound, mange, surfeit, etc.
ALTERATIVE POWDER.--Sulphur pulverized, one pound; black antimony, one
half a pound; nitrate of potassa, four ounces; sulphate of iron, one
half a pound; linseed meal, one pound; mix well; dose, one half an
ounce, night and morning.
ANTACIDS.--Agents which neutralize, by their chemical action, acids in
the stomach; as ammonia, carbonate of potassa, chalk, lime-water,
magnesia, and soda.
ANTHELMINTICS.--Remedies used for the expulsion of worms from the
stomach and intestines. These may act chemically or by their cathartic
operation. The most reliable are AEthiops mineral, nux vomica,
preparations of mercury, wormwood, etc.
ANTHELMINTIC POWDERS.--Nux vomica, in one half-drachm doses, two or
three times daily, to an ox or cow; for calves, the dose must be
diminished, according to age.
ANTIDOTES.--Medicines which neutralize the effects of poisons by a
chemical union, forming an insoluble compound, or a mild, harmless one.
Alkaline solutions are antidotes for the mineral acids; as soap in
solution, a simple remedy, and always at hand. Lard, magnesia, and oil
are antidotes for poisoning by arsenic; albumen,--in the form of the
white of an egg,--milk, etc., for corrosive sublimate, and other
mercurial preparations.
ANTISEPTICS.--Medicines which prevent putridity in animal substances,
and arrest putrefaction, when already existing. These are used both
externally and internally. The chief specifics of this class are the
acids, alcohol, ammonia, asafoetida, camphor, charcoal, chloride of
lime, cinchona, ether, and opium.
ANTISPASMODICS.--Medicines which exert their power in allaying
inordinate motions or spasms in the system, arising from various causes,
such as debility, worms, etc. Those most generally in use are ammonia,
asafoetida, camphor, cinchona, ether, lactacarium, mercury, and opium.
ANTISPASMODIC DRAUGHT.--Tincture of opium, one ounce; nitric ether, two
ounces; water, one-half pint. Mix for drench; if repeated, it should be
followed by a purgative, as soon as the spasms have subsided. Or, use
the following: sulphuric ether, one to two ounces; water, one-half pint
Mix for drench; repeat every hour, if necessary.
AROMATICS.--Medicines possessing a grateful, spicy scent, and an
agreeable, pungent taste; as anise-seed, cardamoms, cinnamon, cloves,
ginger, etc. They are principally used in combination with purgatives,
stomachics, and tonics.
ASTRINGENTS.--Medicines which serve to diminish excessive discharges, as
in diabetes, diarrhoea, etc. The principal agents of this class are
the acids, alum, chalk, lime-water, opium, and the sulphate of copper,
lead, iron, or zinc.
ASTRINGENT POWDER.--Opium, one drachm; prepared chalk, half an ounce;
Jamaica ginger, six drachms. Mix, and divide into four powders; one to
be given every hour, in a little flour gruel. Or, the following: opium,
one drachm; catechu, two drachms; prepared chalk, one ounce. Mix, and
divide into four powders; to be given as before.
CARDIACS.--Cordials--so termed, from their possessing warm and
stimulating properties--given to invigorate the system.
CATHARTICS.--Medicines--also known as purgatives--which cause free
evacuations of the bowels. The only purgatives used by the author in his
cattle practice, as a general rule, are aloes, cream of tartar,
Epsom-salts, lard and linseed-oil. These answer all the indications,
where purgatives are useful; indeed, no better purgative for cattle can
be found than Epsom-salts, combined with a carminative or aromatic drug,
such as ginger.
CAUSTICS.--Substances which burn or destroy parts, by combining with
them and causing their disorganization; used to destroy unhealthy
action, or morbid growths, such as foul ulcers, foul in the foot, warts,
etc. The most powerful remedial of this class is actual cauterization
with a red-hot iron; caustic potash, lunar caustic, nitrous and
sulphuric acids, permanganate of potash, etc., are also used.
CORDIALS.--Best brandy, three ounces; orange peel, one drachm; tepid
water, one pint. Mix all together, for one dose. Or, this for a single
dose: ale, one pint; Jamaica ginger, two drachms. Or, the following,
also a single dose: allspice, three drachms; ginger, one drachm; caraway
seeds, two drachms.
DEMULCENTS.--Mucilaginous medicaments, which have the power of
diminishing the effects of stimulating substances upon the animal
system. Of this class, garden rue, or marsh-mallow, gum-arabic, and
gum-tragacanth are the most useful.
DETERGENTS.--Agents which remove foulness from ulcers.
DETERGENT POWDER.--Prepared chalk, two ounces; alum, one ounce. Mix; to
be sprinkled on the part, after washing with Castile-soap and water.
This powder is also an admirable application for foot-rot in sheep.
DIAPHORETICS.--Agents which increase the natural discharge through the
pores of the skin, and in some animals induce perspiration.
DIGESTIVES.--Medicines which promote suppuration.
DIGESTIVE OINTMENT.--Mix together equal portions of spirits of
turpentine and lard. Or, mix together with a gentle heat the following:
Venetian turpentine, one ounce; lard, one ounce; pulverized sulphate of
copper, two drachms. Or this, mixed: rosin, two ounces; spirits of
turpentine, one ounce; red precipitate, one-half an ounce; lard, two
ounces.
DIURETICS.--Medicines that stimulate the action of the kidneys, and
augment the secretion of urine. These are very useful in swellings of
the legs, or body. Take of nitrate of potash and rosin, each six
drachms; mix, and divide in three powders; one to be given daily. Or,
the following: spirits of turpentine, half an ounce; Castile-soap, one
ounce; Jamaica ginger, one drachm; opium, one drachm. Mix: and divide in
two balls; one to be given each day.
EMOLLIENTS.--Medicines which relax the lining tissues, allay irritation,
and soften the parts involved,--generally of a mucilaginous, or oily
character. Lard, linseed meal, and marsh-mallows are chiefly used.
LITHONTRIPTICS.--Medicines possessing the power of dissolving _calculi_,
or stones in the urinary passages; composed principally, according to
the researches of modern chemists, of lithic or uric acid. The
preparation most successfully employed by the author in such cases is
muriatic acid, in doses of from one to two drachms, in a pail of water,
once or twice a day.
NARCOTICS.--Medicines that stupefy, and produce sleep. Belladonna,
camphor, hyoscyamus and opium, are among the narcotics in common use.
NAUSEANTS.--Agents which cause loss of appetite, and produce the
sensation of vomiting, without affecting it. For this purpose, aloes,
tartrate of antimony, white hellebore, etc., are used.
PARTURIENTS.--Agents which act upon the uterus. In cases of difficult
parturition, or calving, resort is occasionally had to them. Ergot of
rye is the most powerful.
REFRIGERANTS.--Cooling applications, which reduce the temperature of the
blood and body; as cold water, ether, lead-water, etc.
RUBEFACIENTS.--Medicines which gently irritate the skin, producing
redness on white surfaces. Of this class, are aqua ammonia, creosote,
mustard, turpentine, etc.
SEDATIVES.--Agents which depress the vital energies, without destroying
life; as aconite, digitalis, hellebore, hydrochloric acid, hyoscyamus,
opium, and tartrate of antimony.
TONICS.--Medicines which increase the action of the muscular system,
giving strength and vigor to the animal. These are among the most useful
remedies known to man, and are beneficial in all cases of debility,
toning up the stomach, and improving the appetite and condition of the
animal.
TONIC POWDER.--Pulverized gentian-root, one ounce; Jamaica ginger, one
half an ounce; anise-seed, six drachms. Mix, and divide in eight
powders; one to be given night and morning.
TRAUMATICS.--Medicines which excite the healing process of wounds; as
aloes, friar's balsam, myrrh, rosin, sulphate of copper or zinc, tar,
etc.
TRAUMATIC LOTION.--Mix tincture of aloes, one ounce; tincture of myrrh,
two ounces. Or, melt together, tar, one ounce; rosin, two ounces; lard,
four ounces. Or, mix sulphate of zinc, one drachm; rain-water, one half
pint. Or, use the following, the celebrated friar's balsam; benzoin, in
powder, four ounces; balsam of Peru, two ounces; Socotrine aloes, one
half ounce; rectified spirits, one quart. Digest for ten or twelve days;
then filter for use.