DISEASES OF METABOLISM 137 



2. NUTRIENTS. ROBORANTS 



Synonyms: Tonics, confortatives, confortants; invigorating, strength- 

 ening medicines. 



Definition and Uses.— The nutrients differ from the foods in 

 that they are not constituents of the animal body, but they corre- 

 spond to the foods in action in that they relieve disturbances of 

 nutrition and metabolism and strengthen the body. Some of 

 them act as substitutes for the proper food and therefore serve 

 to economize tissue waste. They form a group of drugs which 

 stand between the plastics and excitants. The former designa- 

 tion of tonics is incorrect because the nutrients do not increase 

 the tension of the tissues, as the muscles for instance, but stim- 

 ulate metabolism and the specific functions of the cells, and 

 act upon the muscles in the same manner as upon the nerves and 

 glands. 



The roborants of importance in veterinary medicine include 

 alcohol, which on the one hand in consequence of its oxidation to 

 carbonic acid and water saves the carbohydrates and fats of the 

 tissues, and on the other hand stimulates the functions and the 

 metabolism of the cells of the body, especially those of the brain, 

 heart, skeleton muscles and glands. Wine, beer, brandy, cognac 

 and other fluids containing alcohol act in the same manner as 

 alcohol. Other very important roborants are coffee and other sub- 

 stances containing caffeine (tea, cocoa). Arsenic is also very fre- 

 quently used as a roborant. 



The diseased conditions in which the nutrients are used are the 

 disturbances of nutrition and conditions of weakness which occur 

 in the course of chronic and acute diseases and after difficult par- 

 turition and severe hemorrhage. 



Drugs.— 1. Alcohol. The best roborant in the weak condi- 

 tions occurring in the course of febrile infectious diseases (con- 

 tagious pneumonia); in convalescence following severe acute or 

 chronic diseases; in cachectic conditions, and after difficult par- 

 turition, hemorrhages, etc. At the same time, it economizes tissue 

 waste and acts as an excitant. Given in repeated small doses: 



