ALLAY IRRITABILITY, PAIN, AND SPASM 483 



by the mouth and hypodermically, in combating the rigidity 

 and pain of spinal meningitis. Tetanus, occurring in young 

 animals, is sometimes treated by opium, conjoined with 

 antiseptics and chloral or conium ; while in the more 

 serious cases amongst adults, spasms and morbidly acute 

 sensibility have been checked for several hours by the 

 hypodermic injection of morphine. In hysteria it is 

 prescribed with potassium bromide, and camphor. 



Opiates are of service alike in mares, cows, and bitches, in 

 allaying post-partum irritability, straining, and bleeding, 

 for which they are sometimes conjoined with chloral or 

 chloroform. Morphine, given either by the mouth or hypo- 

 dermically, alone, or, better still, conjoined with atropine, 

 is often effectual in arresting premature labour pains. 

 Some practitioners recommend opiates in epilepsy and 

 chorea, but they are of little use in either. They were 

 formerly used in polyuria of horses, but are not so effectual 

 as iodine. Although powerless to arrest tuberculosis, they 

 are often serviceable in relieving the accompanying cough 

 and diarrhoea. 



Opiates are contra-indicated in acute fever, in congestive 

 and inflammatory diseases of the brain or kidneys, and in 

 obstinate constipation. Full doses, depressing respiratory 

 functions, prove injurious when there is a tendency to death 

 by suffocation. 



Externally, opium has been used to relieve the pain of 

 wounds, bruises, boils, blistered and cauterised surfaces, 

 and superficial inflammation of the eye, skin, and joints. 

 For such purposes five to ten drops each of the tincture (or 

 aqueous solution), and Goulard's extract, may be mixed 

 with an ounce of water. With borax or alkaline car- 

 bonate, it is useful in abating the irritation of prurigo 

 and acute eczema. For haemorrhoids, opium is conjoined 

 with gall ointment. It is the anodyne chiefly relied on for 

 injections and suppositories in enteritis and dysentery, as 

 well as in irritation and inflammation of the uterus, kidneys, 

 bladder, and rectum. As a clyster, opium is used in about 

 the same quantities as are given by the mouth. Not only 

 does opium relieve pain, but peristalsis is lessened and the 

 animal quietened. 



