CHARGES. Charges are plasters which act chiefly by mechanical pressure, being spread on while hot, and then covered with tow. They are not much used among dogs, but in strains they are sometimes useful, as they allow the limb to be used without injury. The best for the dog is composed as follows: Melt the balsam, and mix up with the powder, with the addition of a little turpentine, if necessary. Then smear over the part, and cover with tow, which is to be well matted in with the hand; or use thin leather. CORDIALS. Warm stimulating stomachics are so called. They may be given either as a ball or a drench. Cordial ball: 38.-Powdered caraway seeds, 10 to 15 grains. Cordial drench : Ginger, 3 to 5 grains. Oil of cloves, 2 drops. Linseed meal, enough to make a ball, first mixing it with boiling water. DIURETICS. Medicines which act on the secretion of urine are called diuretics. They are either employed when the kidneys are sluggish, to restore the proper quantity; or to increase it beyond the natural standard, when it is desired to lower the system. Diuretic bolus: 40.-Nitre, 5 to 8 grains. Digitalis, grain. Ginger, 2 or 3 grains. Mix with linseed meal and water, and give all or part, according to the size of the dog. Diuretic and alterative bolus: 41.-Iodide of potassium, 2 to 4 grains. Nitre, 3 to 6 grains. Digitalis, grain. Extract of camomile, 5 grains. Mix, and give all or part. EMBROCATIONS. These external applications, otherwise called liniments, are extremely useful in the dog, for strains, or sometimes to relieve muscular inflammation, or chronic rheumatism of the joints. Mustard, ammonia, laudanum, and turpentine, are the chief agents employed. Mustard embrocation : 42.-Best mustard, 3 to 5 ounces. Liquor of ammonia, 1 ounce. Spirit of turpentine, 1 ounce. Mix into a thin paste, and rub into the part affected. Embrocation for strains or rheumatism: 43.-Spirit of turpentine, Liquor of ammonia, Laudanum, of each ounce. Mix, and shake well before using, then rub in. EMETICS. Emetics are very commonly used in the diseases of the dog, and sometimes act very beneficially; but they have a tendency to weaken the stomach, and should therefore be used with caution. If not frequently resorted to no harm is likely to accrue, as vomiting is almost a natural process in the dog. Common salt emetic: 44.-Dissolve a teaspoonful of salt and half a teaspoonful of mustard in half a pint of tepid water, and give it as a drench. Strong emetic: 45.-Tartar emetic, 1 to 3 grains. Dissolve in a tablespoonful of warm water, and give as a drench; following it up in a quarter of an hour, by pouring down as much thin gruel as the dog can be made to swallow. A A EXPECTORANTS, OR COUGH MEDICINES. The action of these remedies is to promote the flow of mucus, so as to relieve the congestion of the air passages. Common cough bolus: 46.-Ipecacuanha in powder, to 1 grain. Powdered rhubarb, 1 to 2 grains. Purified opium, 1 to 11⁄2 grain. Compound squill pill, 1 to 2 grains. Mix, and give night and morning. Expectorant draught, useful in recent cough: 47.-Ipecacuanha wine, 5 to 10 drops. Common mucilage, 2 drachms. Sweet spirit of nitre, 20 to 30 drops. Camphor mixture, ounce. Mix, and give two or three times a day. Expectorant draught for chronic cough: 48.-Friar's balsam, 8 to 12 drops. Diluted sulphuric acid, 3 to 8 drops. Paregoric, 1 drachm. Camphor mixture, 1⁄2 ounce. Mix, and give twice a day. FEVER MEDICINES. These medicines reduce fever by increasing the secretions of urine and perspiration, and by reducing the action of the heart to some extent. Mix, and put dry on the dog's tongue every night and morning. More active powder : 50.-Calomel, to 11 grain. Nitre, 3 to 5 grains. Digitalis,to 1 grain. Mix, and give once or twice a day, in the same way; or made into a pill with confection. Fever mixture: 51.-Nitre, 1 drachm. Sweet spirit of nitre, 3 drachms. Mindererus' spirit, 1 ounce. Camphor mixture, 61⁄2 ounces. Mix, and give two tablespoonfuls every six hours. |