278 



CiOLOPEDIA OF LIVB STOCK AND COMFLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



Soporijics induce sleep. 



Stimulants temporarily excite the nervous or circulatory system. 



Sialogogues increase the secretion of saliva. 



Stomachics improve digestion. 



Tb?^^t•s gradually and permanently improve digestion and nutrition. 



Vermifuges kill and expel worms. 



VII. Graduation of Doses. 



The relation of quantity of medicine to the age of the patient is thu? 

 given })y Prof. Low : The doses given may be held applicable to full 

 grown animals of medium size, therefore some allowance must be made 

 in any case in which the patient exceeds or comes short of the average of 

 his kind. A similar modification must be made as regards young anim- 

 als, not only on account of their smaller size but also of their greater 

 susceptibility. The following table may serie as a guide : 



Allowance must also be made for a nervous temperament which usually 

 renders an animal more impressible, for habit or continued use which 

 tends to decrease the susceptibility for individual drugs, for idiosyncrasy 

 which can only be discovered by observing the action of the agent on the 

 particular subject, and for the influence of disease when that is likely to 

 affect the action. Thus in most diseases of the brain and spinal cord, and 

 in some impactions of the stomach, double the usual quantities of pur- 

 gative medicine will be necessary, while in influenza and ether low fevers 

 half the usual doses may prove fatal. In acute congestion of the brain, 

 stimulating narcotics (opium, belladonna, hyoscyamus,) would aggravate 

 the symptoms, etc. 



IX. How Often to Give Medicines. 



Febrifuges, or doses intended to reduce fever, such as aconite, bella-n 

 dona, spirits of nitre, solution of the nitrate or chlorate of potash, or 

 any form of ammonia should be repeated as often as every two hours in 

 bad cases, and from that to three or four times a day in mild cases. 

 Alteratives may be repeated once or twice a day. Purgatives may be 

 repeated after twenty to thirty hours in bad cases, and after forty to 

 forty-eight hours in mild cases. Tonics should be repeated once, twice 

 or thrice a day. Stimulants, especially alcoholic, may be repeated after 

 two to six hours. Ecbolics may be repeated after half an hour ; ano- 

 dynes after half an hour ; other remedies as reauired. 



