IQ2 ANTACIDS 



in the mouth, for example by means of bitters, dilute acids, 

 alcohol and ether. When indigestion occurs from presumed 

 insufficiency of the gastric juice, two modes of treatment are 

 available (1) dilute acids, bitters, and a little spirit are 

 given to stimulate secretion ; but (2) where, from reducing 

 disease or other causes, the stomach is enfeebled, a substitute 

 for the gastric juice should be given in the form of diluted 

 mineral acid, preferably hydrochloric, conjoined with pepsin. 

 Moreover in all such cases, the food must be readily digestible. 

 For horses, well-prepared mashes are substituted for dry 

 corn and hard fibrous hay ; while calves, foals, or puppies, 

 when their undiluted milk disagrees, should have it mixed 

 with water, or, better still, with lime water, sodium citrate, 

 or with linseed tea, in order that the tough curd may be 

 more easily broken down. 



ANTACIDS. Certain forms of dyspepsia depend upon, or 

 are aggravated by, undue gastro-intestinal acidity, which is 

 counteracted by antacids. These comprise the alkalies 

 potash, soda, and ammonia ; the alkaline earths lime and 

 magnesia ; and carbonates and bicarbonates of these bases. 

 The neutral salts which these alkalies form with vegetable 

 acids, notably the tartrates and citrates, after acting prim- 

 arily as salines, are converted in the blood into carbonates, 

 and secondarily exert alkaline effects on the tissues and 

 secretions with which they are brought into contact. It is 

 thus that they are serviceable in rheumatism, eczema, some 

 cases of pyrexia, and in counteracting acidity of the urine. 

 As an antacid, the volatile ammonia is less permanent than 

 the fixed alkalies. Potash and its salts are more active than 

 soda and its corresponding salts. Lime salts, being pro- 

 tective and astringent, and not readily absorbed, are indi- 

 cated in diarrhoea ; magnesia salts, being laxative, are 

 appropriate where acidity concurs with torpidity of the 

 bowels. Lithium carbonate, present in Baden-Baden 

 and Bath mineral waters, is prized in human medicine as 

 a solvent of urinary calculi and deposits. 



Horses fed irregularly, or too closely restricted to dry 

 food, frequently suffer from gastric acidity, instinctively lick 

 the lime-washed walls of their stables, or eat earth, and are 

 usually promptly relieved by antacids and suitable feeding. 



