5 o2 VETERINARY LECTURES 



1012. Antispasmodics are remedies that relieve or prevent spasm or cramp 

 of the muscular fibres. The list of such agents is very great. Those 

 used externally are cold and hot applications, friction, massage, blood- 

 letting, and any form of counter-irritation. Those used internally are 

 spirits,' laudanum, morphia, chloral hydrate, turpentine, camphor, etc. 

 Hypodermic injections of morphia and atropine are used, also inhalations 

 of chloroform and aether, and watery vapours of essential oils— eucalyptus 

 oil, camphor, etc. 



1013. Aperients {see Purgatives). 



10 1 4. Aromatics {see Carminatives). 



1015. Astringents check and arrest too abundant secretions, and cause the 

 parts to contract and condense. The materials used are the mineral and 

 vegetable acids, mineral salts, chalk, oak bark, alum, turpentine, and 

 opium. 



1016. Antiperiodics are medicinal agents that prevent or lessen the active 

 symptoms of certain complaints, of a recurring or intermittent nature. 

 For these quinine, arsenic, iodine, and the bromides, answer best. 



10 1 7. Antipyretics {see Febrifuges). 



1018. Blisters, Counter-Irritants, Rubefacients, Vesicants. — These 

 agents differ very much in their action and intensity, according to the 

 materials used. They cause heat, pain, redness and swelling of the part 

 to which they are applied, and thus relieve the pain, or the congestion 

 and inflammation in the more deep-seated parts, and they also promote 

 absorption of adjacent enlargements. A number of substances are used 

 as Counter-irritants. From 2 to 3 ounces of mustard mixed in 1 pint of 

 cold water make a good simple counter-irritant for the throat in common 

 cold, pharyngitis, and laryngitis. For applying to the sides of the chest 

 in bronchitis, pneumonia, etc., double the strength of the above must 

 be used. Blisters for horses and cattle are used in the form of liquids 

 and ointments, and of these there are various preparations. 



1019. Carminatives, Aromatics, Cordials and Stomachics. — These articles, 

 like antispasmodics, are used to stimulate the stomach and intestinal 

 canal into action, also to condense gases and to expel flatus. The aromatic 

 seeds and the essential oils — as oil of mint — are used for this purpose. 

 As a general cordial or stomachic, the following mixture is useful : Equal 

 parts of ginger, gentian, caraway seeds, aniseed, coriander seeds, and 

 pimento ; grind very fine, and mix well together. For the horse and cow 

 from 3 to 5 ounces of the mixture may be given in 3 gills of warm ale 

 or treacle gruel, as a warming drench. For sheep give one-fourth of this 

 dose. Four ounces of this cordial, if added to a dose of salts, assist the 

 latter greatly in its action. 



1020. Cathartics {see Purgatives). 



1 02 1. Caustics, Escharotics, Styptics. — These agents are generally used 

 to arrest excessive granulations in wounds, or to stimulate healthy action 

 in indolent ulcers ; also to remove warty excrescences, and they are used 



