462 



HEALTH AND DISEASE 



can be detected, in the diminished beat of the pulse and reduced numbers 

 of respirations, in a few minutes. It is given in inflammation of the lungs 

 and acute abdominal troubles, and is a constituent of some colic medicines. 

 Its action should be carefully noted, and its use discontinued as soon as the 

 desired effect upon the heart is made apparent in the pulse. 



DRUGS WHICH ACT UPON THE BLOOD-VESSELS 



These are practically divided into two classes — namely, those which 

 cause the vessels to contract and consequently permit a smaller amount 



of blood to pass through them, and those which 

 dilate them and permit of a greater quantity 

 to flow through them. AVhen a portion of the 

 body is in a state of active inflammation, we 

 employ the first class of remedies. In veteri- 

 nary practice we have frequent recourse to the 

 cold douche, cold lotions, and bandages, ice, &c., 

 for the reduction of inflamed joints and to control 

 haemorrhage. 



In the second class we place hot fomentations 

 and poultices, mustard and warm embrocations, as 

 their effect is to produce temporary dilatation of 

 the vessels of the skin and enable the blood within 

 to distend them to their greatest capacity. In this 

 way mustard applied over the chest walls in pul- 

 monary inflammations gives relief to the vital or- 

 gans by diverting blood from them to the surface. 

 Stimulating the legs with liniments, and hand- 

 rubbing, has the same influence in bringing about 

 a more general distribution of the blood, which in 

 internal inflammation is centred upon some more important organ or organs. 

 In addition to the methods of relaxing superficial vessels as illus- 

 trated above, there are also remedies which have a like effect upon internal 

 organs, and by bringing more blood to the part, increase their physiological 

 activity. Among those used in veterinary practice may be mentioned 

 ginger, capsicum, pepper, grains of paradise, and some others of doubtful 

 value employed in the treatment of impaired digestion. Drugs which relax 

 the vessels of the skin, as alcohol, nitrate of potash, acetate of potash, and 

 nitrous ether, produce a sensation of warmth for a short time, and this is why 

 alcohol is popularly believed to increase the warmth of the bod}', although 

 it has already been shown that its ultimate effect is to reduce temperature. 



Fig. 429.— Ergot of Rye 



1, Spanish ergot. 2, Russian 

 ergot. 



