Part 41 (1/2)

BALM OF GILEAD BUDS. One ounce of the buds, after being infused in boiling water and strained, makes a good drink for chronic coughs.

BALMONY. A good tonic and vermifuge.

BALSAM, CANADA, is a diuretic, and may be given in slippery elm, in doses of one table-spoonful for diseases of the kidneys.

BALSAM OF COPAIBA, or CAPIVI, is useful in all diseases of the urinary organs, and, combined with powdered marshmallows and water, makes a good cough drink. Dose, half an ounce.

BALEAM OF TOLU. Used for the same purpose as the preceding.

BARLEY. Barley water, sweetened with honey, is a useful drink in fevers.

BAYBERRY BARK. We have frequently prescribed this article in the preceding pages as an antiseptic and astringent for scouring and dysentery.

BEARBERRY, (_uva ursi_.) This is a popular diuretic, and is useful when combined with marshmallows. When the urine is thick and deficient in quant.i.ty, or voided with difficulty, it may be given in the following form:--

Powdered bearberry, 1 ounce.

” marshmallows, 2 ounces.

Indian meal, 2 pounds.

Mix. Dose, half a pound daily, in the cow's feed.

BITTER ROOT, (_apocynum androsaemifolium_.) Given in doses of half an ounce of the powdered bark, it acts as an aperient, and is good wherever an aperient is indicated.

BLACKBERRY ROOT, (_rubus trivialis_.) A valuable remedy for scours in sheep.

BLACK ROOT, (_leptandra virginica_.) The extract is used as physic, instead of aloes. (See _Physic for Cattle_.) A strong decoction of the fresh roots will generally act as a cathartic on all cla.s.ses of animals.

BLOODROOT, (_sanguinaria canadensis_.) It is used in our practice as an escharotic. It acts on fungous excrescences, and is a good subst.i.tute for nitrate of silver in the dispersion of all morbid growth. One ounce of the powder, infused in boiling vinegar, is a valuable application for rot and mange.

BLUE FLAG, (_iris versicolor_.) The powdered root is a good vermifuge.

BONESET, (_eupatorium perfoliatum_.) This is a valuable domestic remedy. Its properties are too well known to the farming community to need any description.

BORAX. This is a valuable remedy for eruptive diseases of the tongue and mouth. Powdered and dissolved in water, it forms an astringent, antiseptic wash. The usual form of prescription, in veterinary practice, is,--

Powdered borax, half an ounce.

Honey, 2 ounces.

Mix.

BUCKTHORN, (_rhamnus catharticus_.) A sirup made from this plant is a valuable aperient in cattle practice. The dose is from half an ounce to two ounces.

BURDOCK, (_arctium lappa_.) The leaves, steeped in vinegar, make a good application for sore throat and enlarged glands. The seeds are good to purify the blood, and may be given in the fodder.

b.u.t.tERNUT BARK, (_juglans cinerea_.) Extract of b.u.t.ternut makes a good cathartic, in doses of half an ounce. It is much safer than any known cathartic, and, given in doses of two drachms, in hot water, combined with a small quant.i.ty of ginger, it forms a useful aperient and alterative. In a constipated habit, attended with loss of cud, it is invaluable. During the American revolution, when medicines were scarce, this article was brought into use by the physicians, and was esteemed by them an excellent subst.i.tute for the ordinary cathartics.

CALAMUS, (_acorus calamus_.) A valuable remedy for loss of cud.

CAMOMILE. See _Anthemis_.