336 MEDICINAL USES 



the parched mouth and abating thirst. Like other acids, it 

 specially stimulates the pancreatic, and other alkaline 

 secretions. Hydrochloric acid is the special acid of the 

 gastric juice ; in herbivora it amounts to 1 to 2 per 1000. 

 When the natural acid of this fluid is deficient, digestion is 

 performed tardily and imperfectly, the food ferments and 

 acrid acids are evolved. For obviating or removing such 

 conditions, hydrochloric acid is specially suitable ; it aids 

 digestion, especially of albuminoids, controls acid fermenta- 

 tion common in young animals, and due to lactic acid and 

 other organisms in the milk, and hence often checks diarrhoea. 

 In young calves or foals, digesting their food indifferently, 

 and scouring, a few drops of hydrochloric acid may be given 

 with the milk, exerting both antiseptic and digestive effects ; 

 and acids are usually preferable to alkalies, being given either 

 immediately before or about an hour after feeding. Acids 

 conjoined with bitters are also useful for convalescents from 

 exhausting disease, for show beasts that have been systemati- 

 cally over-fed, and for young and weakly, as well as for old, 

 enfeebled subjects. The acid treatment is equally appropri- 

 ate in the totally different gastric condition of undue acidity 

 depending upon excessive but weak secretion, for here the 

 astringent effects tend to rest the mucous membrane ; 

 but in such case the acid should be administered half an hour 

 before feeding. Given alone or with ferric chloride, it 

 promotes a healthier state of the bowels in animals infested 

 with intestinal worms, and sometimes expels ascarides. 

 Like other mineral acids, it increases the acidity of the urine 

 during excretion. 



Externally it is used to destroy warts, and, as a caustic 

 and antiseptic for wounds, for foot-rot in sheep, and occa- 

 sionally as a styptic. A tepid solution, diluted until only 

 faintly acid to the tongue, is sometimes used, instead of 

 vinegar and water, for rapidly sponging the skin of febrile 

 patients. 



DOSES, etc. Of diluted or medicinal acid, horses take 

 f 3ss. to f3ij- ; cattle, f3ij- to f3iv. ; sheep and pigs, Tf\xv. 

 to lT\xx. ; dogs, Tl\iij. to H\xx., usually prescribed with forty 

 or fifty parts of water ; often given along with bitters and 

 iron salts. 





