ESSENTIAL TO HEALTHY NUTRITION 199 



and there was considerable extravasation of blood in the 

 cerebellum and medulla ' (Veterinarian, 1871). Even cattle 

 and sheep, for which it is generally a suitable cathartic, 

 occasionally suffer from overdoses. Dangerous effects have 

 been produced by several ounces given to young and delicate 

 calves, for which oil is a more suitable purge. 



MEDICINAL USES. For vigorous cattle and sheep common 

 salt is a useful purgative, resembling in its effects Epsom 

 and Glauber salts. It is, however, more soluble, moderate 

 doses are more quickly absorbed, and hence it is frequently 

 desirable to conjoin common and Epsom salts. Full doses 

 of such salines cause thirst, induce the animal to drink water 

 or other bland fluids freely, thus softening and carrying 

 onwards the hard, dry, impacted food, which is apt to 

 accumulate in the first and third stomachs of ruminants. 

 For such patients salt is .administered to unload the bowels 

 in impaction of the rumen and omasum, as well as in the 

 earlier stages of diarrhoea depending on over-feeding, or kept 

 up by the presence of irritating matters in the canal. It is 

 also given for its indirect effects on general metabolism and 

 nutrition, for it not only beneficially empties the stomachs 

 and bowels, but frees the blood of peccant matters. It is 

 indicated in the later stages of pleurisy, peritonitis, and 

 pneumonia. 



SmaU and repeated doses are stomachic, are prescribed for 

 all animals suffering from indigestion and irregular appetite, 

 and may be conjoined with gentian, ginger, or spirits and 

 water. It obviates to some extent the effects of damp and 

 badly kept fodder, and, given with nutritive dry food, pre- 

 vents or retards the progress of ascites in sheep so often 

 caused by flukes and other parasites. Systematically given, 

 salt lessens the liability to intestinal worms, and an enema 

 of two or three ounces to a pint of water often brings away 

 ascarides from the rectum. It is frequently added to laxa- 

 tive clysters. A solution of 80 grains pure sodium chloride 

 in 20 ounces of boiled water cooled to blood heat, is injected 

 subcutaneously into the peritoneal cavity, or intravenously, 

 in collapse from haemorrhage, serious operation, or from 

 exhausting disease. Injections of a quart or more may be 

 made daily with marked benefit in many cases. 



