ANHYDROTICS 123 



phoresis in the lower animals, as well as in man. The 

 patient may be enveloped in a sheet saturated with either 

 cold or tepid water. Over this are placed three or four 

 large horse-cloths. The legs should be subjected to similar 

 treatment, or rolled in warm bandages. After the patient 

 has been thus clothed for half an hour or an hour, he will 

 steam and perspire very freely. The sheet and rugs should 

 then be removed, and the animal dried by hand-rubbing, 

 and comfortably clothed. This practice has been success- 

 fully adopted both with horses and cattle. The evil effects 

 of chills are thus counteracted, colds are cut short, and 

 rheumatism, especially in gross subjects, removed. Hydro- 

 therapy should not, however, be adopted unless with due 

 consideration, and under competent supervision. Pro- 

 tracted or violent diaphoresis, howsoever produced, proves 

 debilitating. 



Diaphoretics are used for the following purposes :^ 



(1) They restore checked cutaneous secretion, and hence 

 equalise irregularities of circulation, counteract congestion of 

 internal organs, and lower abnormal temperature. They are 

 hence often serviceable in cutting short chills, colds, and 

 simple febrile attacks, especially amongst horses. 



(2) They help to remove injurious waste products of 

 metabolism, which are apt to accumulate, particularly in 

 febrile, inflammatory, and rheumatic disorders. These 

 depurative services are especially valuable when the elimin- 

 ating functions of the kidneys, bowels, or pulmonary 

 membrane are impaired. In such cases the skin may be 

 made to undertake a vicarious duty, and excrete waste 

 matters usually removed by other channels. 



ANHYDROTICS are drugs which lessen cutaneous secretion. 

 Their effects appear to be induced (1) by diminishing the 

 activity of the sweat glands ; (2) by lessening excitability of 

 the sweat centres ; or (3) by acting on the circulation, usually 

 by stimulating the respiratory centre, and thus overcoming 

 that venous condition of the blood which in weakness and 

 disease is a frequent cause of sweating ; (4) by cooling the 

 skin either with refrigerant lotions or cool air, or ventilated 

 cellular clothing in place of thick rugs which prevent 

 radiation of heat. 



