CARBON BISULPHIDE 349 



water. By saturation with carbonates, or oxides, it forms 

 salts which are known as formates. Formic acid is anti- 

 septic, caustic, and musculo-tonic. It improves the nutri- 

 tion of the tissues, promotes muscular energy, and is specially 

 valuable in convalescence following influenza, pneumonia, 

 strangles, purpura, or other systemic disease. As a 

 general tonic it is prescribed as a formate or as a combina- 

 tion of glycerophosphates and formates of soda, calcium, 

 strychnia, and quinine. 



Glyphocal with formates (Squire and Sons), a compound 

 elixir of calcium, iron, magnesium, sodium, and potassium 

 glycerophosphates, pleasantly flavoured, and combined 

 with the formates, is a valuable tonic for young horses and 

 dogs. It may be given in doses of 3 ] ij- to 3 V J- to horses, 

 and H\x. to H\lx. to dogs, with the food, or drinking-water. 

 Formic acid is seldom employed as an antiseptic, but 

 occasionally a solution of one part acid in three of alcohol 

 is used as a caustic. 



CARBON BISULPHIDE 



Carbonis disulphidum, CS 2 , may be prepared by the 

 combination of carbon and sulphur at a high temperature, 

 the product being subsequently condensed and purified 

 (B.P.). It is a clear, colourless, inflammable liquid, with a 

 characteristic odour, and soluble in alcohol, ether, chloro- 

 form, the fixed and volatile oils, and in five hundred parts of 

 water. 



Carbon bisulphide is little used in veterinary practice, 

 but it was suggested by Perroncito as an excellent agent 

 for the destruction of bots hi the horse's stomach and 

 strongyles in the intestine. In foals and aged horses, 

 Taar employed this remedy with excellent results, and found 

 that while one dose was sufficient for foals infested with 

 gastrophilus larvae, a second dose followed by a purgative 

 was necessary for those with worms. He states that autumn 

 is the best time for this treatment, as then the parasites are 

 immature. Doses, horses, 39- to 3J V - 5 foals, 3J- to 39 > 

 enclosed in gelatin capsules. If necessary the dose may be 

 repeated in two hours, or after an interval of two or three 



