150 GENERAL THERAPEUTICS FOR VETERINARIANS 



cutaneous irritants afford relief to the kidneys in anuria and 

 uraemia occurring in the course of inflammation of the kidneys. 



8. In surgery, the so-called digestives, particularly turpentine 

 oil, aloes and Peru balsam, are used in the form of solutions, 

 ointments, plasters and tampons to promote the suppuration and 

 granulation of wounds, ulcers and abscesses (bactericidal and sol- 

 vent action of sterile pus). 



Zschokke, in an excellent article (Ueber die Wirkungsweise der Deri- 

 vantien, Monatshefte fiir prakt. Tierheilkunde, vol. ix, 1898), strongly 

 recommends the retention of the derivants,i.e., the cutaneous irritants, lini- 

 ments, blisters and firing, in veterinary medicine. According to him, they are 

 indispensable in numerous diseases. He refers to the widespread view that 

 the cutaneous irritants only act by forcing the patient to keep the diseased 

 part as quiet as possible, and points out that the local effects are stimulation 

 of phagocytosis (resorption, disinfection) and an increased formation of anti- 

 toxins locally (disinfection) as a result of stimulation of the nutrition of the 

 tissue cells. The general action of the derivants in febrile diseases is also due 

 to the formation of antitoxins, which combat fever and even abort infectious 

 diseases. In phlegmona especially, an effective disinfection, with phagocy- 

 tosis and a rapid disappearance of the bacteria, is obtained from "blisters," 

 as has been demonstrated experimentally in horses by Bossi (11 nuovo Erco- 

 lani, 1891). 



An historical study of the action of "blisters" was published by Gramm- 

 lich in the Zeitschrift fiir Veterinarkunde (1898). See also Kiinnemann's 

 Festrede uber die Wirkung der hautreizenden Mittel (1907). 



Drugs. — 1 . Oleum terebinthinae. Turpentine oil is frequently 

 used as a rubefacient in chronic muscular rheumatism, colic, 

 chronic articular and tendon lamenesses, oedematous swellings 

 of the skin, contusions of the joints, weak and paralytic condi- 

 tions, etc.; usually diluted, 1 : 10-20, with alcohol, spirit of cam- 

 phor or oil; also injected subcutaneously to produce derivative 

 abscesses (so-called fixation abscesses) in infectious diseases. 



2. Spiritus camphorse. Spirit of camphor. Also a frequently 

 used epispastic, alone or combined with turpentine oil. A stronger 

 action is exerted by the application of camphora in substance. 



3. Tinctura amicae. Much used by the laity as a stimulant 

 and resolvent in rheumatism and contusions. Tinctura capsici has 



