130 GENERAL THERAPEUTICS FOR VETERINARIANS 



The effects of increased secretion of sweat upon the organism 

 are very numerous. The most important is the loss of water from 

 the body. This causes, like diuresis and catharsis, a resorption 

 of fluids contained in the tissues or body cavities. At the same 

 time there is a derivation of the blood from the internal organs to 

 the skin, with increased dissipation of heat from the latter and a 

 consequent fall of the internal temperature (critical sweat of 

 febrile diseases). The secretory activity of the kidneys is re- 

 lieved, the excretion of urea and other metabolic products through 

 the skin is increased and the body weight is reduced, while the 

 activity of the heart is lessened because of the decrease in the vol- 

 ume of the blood. Moreover, bacteria and their toxins, grape 

 sugar, bile pigments, drugs and poisons (mercury, lead, iodine, 

 bromide) are eliminated from the blood through the sweat. 



Uses. — Since the introduction of pilocarpine and arecoline, the 

 diaphoretics are of greater therapeutic importance in veterinary 

 medicine, especially in equine practice. The most important dis- 

 eases in which they are indicated are the following: 



(a) Dropsical conditions in the course of heart, lung, liver and 

 kidney diseases, particularly hydrocephalus, ascites, hydrothorax, 

 and hydropericardium, pleuritic and peritoneal exudates, and 

 exudative inflammation of the articulations. 



(b) Laminitis and articular and muscular rheumatism. 



(c) Diseases of the kidneys, especially oliguria, anuria and 

 uraemia occurring in the course of severe inflammation of the kid- 

 neys. 



(d) Chronic poisonings (mercury, lead). 



(e) Tetanus, cerebrospinal meningitis, parturient apoplexy. 



Drugs. — 1. Pilocarpine. In large doses, a powerful dia- 

 phoretic; specific in laminitis in horses, also in muscular rheu- 

 matism; superior resorbent for all dropsies, transudates and exu- 

 dates, particularly in acute hydrocephalus of the horse. Dose of 

 pilocarpinae hydrochloridum (subcutaneously) for horses is 0.5-0.8 

 (!), grs. vij to xii (!). The hidrotic action will be promoted by 

 rubbing and warm, moist (vinegar) coverings. A rather expensive 

 drug. 



