480 OPIUM MORPHINE 



effectually as it does in human patients. When, however, 

 a morphine salt is injected hypodermically, fifteen to thirty 

 minutes previous to the inhalation of chloroform or ether, 

 anaesthesia is intensified and prolonged, and the anaesthetic 

 is economised. 



In gastritis and gastro-enteritis, whether produced by 

 disease or by swallowing acrid poisons, opiates are anodyne, 

 astringent, and haemostatic. Obstinate chronic vomiting, 

 in either dogs or pigs, whether depending upon irritation 

 of the stomach or of the vomiting centre, is generally re- 

 lieved by a few grains of opium, given with chloroform or 

 chloral hydrate. In gastric irritability it is sometimes 

 prescribed with bismuth subnitrate. When, in weakly, 

 young, growing animals, food is hurried too rapidly 

 through the digestive canal, opium checks excessive secre- 

 tion and peristalsis, and, conjoined with mineral acids or 

 arsenic, should be given shortly before feeding. 



Diarrhoea, whether occurring from congestion of the 

 alimentary mucous membrane, or as a symptom of other 

 ailments, is often checked by a laxative, which carries 

 away offending matters. Occasionally, however, the bowels 

 continue irritable and relaxed ; opium in such cases abates 

 irritability, diminishes excessive secretion, and is adminis- 

 stered with well-boiled starch gruel, sometimes conjoined 

 with an antacid, sometimes with acids, bitters, or vegetable 

 astringents. For such purposes the following recipes are 

 used, alike in horses and cattle : A drachm each of 

 powdered opium, kino, gentian, and sodium carbonate ; 

 or a drachm of opium, a drachm of catechu, or half a drachm 

 of tannin, with half an ounce of chalk. These drugs may 

 be made into bolus with treacle or meal and water, or 

 dissolved in ale or gruel, and given twice daily, or as 

 required. An ounce of laudanum, thirty drops sulphuric 

 acid, two drachms powdered catechu, with an ounce of 

 ginger, aniseed, or fenugreek, make an astringent anodyne 

 drench for diarrhoea in cattle, which may be given in gruel, 

 ale, or spirit and water. Another useful prescription for 

 relaxed bowels consists of an ounce each of laudanum, 

 decoction of oak bark, ginger, and sodium bicarbonate, given 

 several times daily in starch gruel. One-third of this dose 



