568 SALICYLIC ACID 



were produced by 1 gramme (15'04 grains) for each 

 5 kilogrammes of body- weight. A dog 10 Ibs. weight 

 received 0*8 gramme in repeated doses during six hours ; 

 he vomited, had muscular trembling, and weakness of the 

 hind limbs. A dog of 60 Ibs. had 4 grammes, in divided 

 doses, which caused weakness and cramp of the hind- 

 quarters. A dog of 10 Ibs. had 5 grammes sodium sali- 

 cylate subcutaneously, and exhibited dyspnoea, irregular 

 pulse, dilated pupils, dulness, vomiting, lameness of the 

 hindquarters, convulsions, and fatal paresis. A dog of 

 18 Ibs. was fatally asphyxiated by eight grammes injected 

 into the rectum. 



MEDICINAL USES. The acid and its alkaline salts are 

 serviceable in arresting dyspeptic fermentation and diarrhoea 

 in young animals. When administered in cases of gastro- 

 intestinal irritation, the sodium salicylate, not being irri- 

 tant, is preferable to the acid. 



The salicylate treatment is almost a specific for acute 

 rheumatism in human patients. It frequently relieves 

 the pain before the temperature or fever is abated. The 

 beneficial results have been ascribed to the breaking up of 

 lactic acid products. But British veterinarians have not 

 found the treatment so effectual either in horses or cattle. 

 In animals such attacks are chiefly of a chronic type, on 

 which salicylic acid has not such marked effect as in the 

 acute cases, and it may be that the doses prescribed have 

 not been large enough, or given with sufficient frequency, 

 or for a sufficient period. To foals suffering from lameness 

 Hinterholzer gave two teaspoonfuls sodium salicylate twice 

 a day, and as a prophylactic measure in pregnant mares 

 he prescribed sixty to seventy grains morning and evening 

 for a few days before the date of foaling. Frohner uses 

 both the acid and the sodium salt in muscular and arthritic 

 rheumatism in all animals, and states that chronic cases are 

 benefited by continued doses, that good results need not be 

 despaired of until the drug has been persisted with for ten 

 or fifteen days, while to prevent relapse the administration 

 is continued for some days after the symptoms have been 

 relieved. Dogs are benefited especially where the joints 

 are prominently affected. 



