292 GENERAL THERAPEUTICS FOR VETERINARIANS 



tendinitis and tendovaginitis, indurations of glands, udder nodules 

 and rheumatic indurations of muscles. 



Remedies. — 1. Water and all remedies containing water (baths, 

 cataplasms, moist applications). 



2. Moist heat, especially in the form of the Priessnitz dressing 

 and cataplasms. 



3. Fats, soaps, glycerin, and lyes (soda lye, potash lye. potas- 

 sium sulphate). 



3. CLEANSING REMEDIES 



Action and Uses. — The ordinary cleansing agents, water and 

 soap, operate mechanically to remove dirt, scabs, pus, and other 

 disease products, and particularly infectious materials. In the 

 latter respect, the cleansing agents act at the same time as dis- 

 infectants. As already stated (p. 182), a thorough cleansing is in 

 many cases equal in value to a disinfection. Water and soap, 

 when rationally used, frequently suffice as disinfectants; provided 

 the water is clean, i.e., free from infectious materials, that it is 

 used in sufficient amount and, when possible, warm or hot, and 

 that a good preparation of soap is used. An entirely neutral soap 

 is best for cleansing the skin (soft soap irritates the skin, as may 

 be frequently observed especially in dogs). On the other hand, 

 for cleansing utensils and other articles a soap with a strong 

 alkaline reaction is desired, i.e., a soap which contains free lye, 

 because the free lye exerts a disinfectant as well as a cleansing 

 effect. Soft soap is therefore preferred for this purpose. 



Absorbent Remedies (Imbibents, Rophetics). — These serve 

 to absorb blood, serum, pus, and other fluids. Their action is 

 purely physical. They include dressing materials (cotton, wood 

 wool, jute, etc.). Wood wool possesses the greatest imbibing 

 properties. Freshly-burned charcoal absorbs gases (SH2) and 

 poisons, and starch absorbs iodine. 



Dilating Remedies (Dilatants). — A mechanical dilation by 

 means of dilating pencils (laminaria, tupelo) is used in surgery 

 and obstetrics. 



