DOSES AND ADMINISTRATION 443 



often preferable. Whatever physic is used, enemata of 

 water should be thrown into the colon with an extra long 

 tube, in quantities of six to eight gallons. In obstruction, 

 obstinate torpidity, and severe colic, copious injections 

 introduced into the large intestine are very important 

 adjuncts. Aloes, in virtue of its bitterness and power of 

 increasing peristalsis, is a useful anthelmintic. For entozoa 

 it is administered with oil of turpentine, ether, santonin, 

 sometimes with iron or copper sulphate. Although aloes is 

 effectual in sweeping out excess of bile lodged in the intes- 

 tines, it is unsuitable in jaundice or torpidity of the liver, in 

 which the bile requisite for its solution is deficient. In such 

 cases, salines, oils, and calomel are preferable, or the aloes 

 may be prescribed with ox bile, which greatly assists its 

 action. 



Aloes promotes excretion of waste products, and hence 

 usefully relieves febrile symptoms, rheumatic attacks, skin 

 irritation, swollen limbs, and inflamed joints. It is effectual 

 alike in preventing and removing lymphangitis ; while it 

 also hastens the removal of oedematous swellings, when 

 not depending upon debility or serious disease of internal 

 organs. Removing excreta, and withdrawing, by deriva- 

 tion or counter-irritation, blood from congested or inflamed 

 parts, it relieves congestion and inflammation of the brain 

 and spinal cord, full doses being usually requisite ; while it 

 is also serviceable in the onset of paralysis, especially in 

 subjects in gross or high condition, or suffering from gastro- 

 intestinal derangement. Repeated doses lessen the forma- 

 tion of superfluous blood and fat, are given both profession- 

 ally and empirically to promote condition an object 

 usually, however, more safely and effectually secured by 

 judicious feeding and well-regulated exercise. 



To cattle and sheep, in constipation and indigestion, as 

 well as in febrile and inflammatory complaints, aloes is 

 occasionally given ; but, as already stated, it is less reliable 

 in ruminants than in horses. If used for cattle and sheep, 

 it should be combined with salines, gamboge, or croton, and 

 given in drench. For dogs it is sometimes prescribed in the 

 same class of cases for which it is given to horses ; but 

 calomel and jalap, or some of the oils, act more promptly. 



