158 WATER ICE 



attained by alternately douching with cold and warm 

 water. 



Ice in small pieces, placed in the mouth, is readily sucked 

 by most animals, and often relieves congestion of the throat, 

 and irritability of the stomach, especially in dogs. Applied 

 usually in a bag or bladder, it is serviceable in inflamed and 

 prolapsed uterus and rectum, hernise, in the early treatment 

 of flexor strains and wrenched joints, in haemorrhage, which 

 sometimes occurs shortly after parturition, as well as in 

 parturient coma in cows. Two parts of ice mixed with one 

 of salt form a powerful freezing mixture of the temperature 

 of 4 Pahr. Snow or ice is applied to retard the sudden rise 

 of temperature and consequent gangrene in frost-bite, to 

 arrest circumscribed congestion and inflammation, to check 

 bleeding and convulsions. Ice maintained in contact with 

 the skin for six or eight minutes diminishes sensation, and 

 facilitates the performance of a few minor operations ; but 

 for inducing local anaesthesia, cocaine is preferable. 



OXYGEN 



Oxygen is a colourless, odourless gas, slightly heavier than 

 atmospheric air, and forming about one-fifth of its volume. 

 Twenty-five volumes of water dissolve one volume of oxygen. 

 It has wide chemical activity. 



ACTIONS AND USES. Oxygen has slight effect on the 

 unbroken skin, but stimulates denuded skin and mucous 

 surfaces. Oxygenated solutions have been applied to atonic 

 wounds and ulcers. Such solutions, when swallowed, aid 

 oxidation of waste products in the alimentary canal. The 

 inhalation of oxygen has been recommended in dyspnoea 

 arising from asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and other 

 respiratory diseases, as well as in cardiac failure. In im- 

 peded respiration with stagnation of air in the alveoli the 

 inhalation of oxygen by promoting diffusion, may be bene- 

 ficial. Only limited quantities can be retained by the blood ; 

 the serum, when saturated, retains one-fifteenth of the 

 amount the red globules can take up, and Durig has shown 

 that in rest oxygen exerts no influence on metabolism. 

 Oxygen is largely used as an insufflation for the udder in 



