398 THE FARM DOCTOR. 



Allowance must also be made for a nervous temperament, 

 which usually renders an animal more impressible ; for habit or 

 continued use, which tends to decrease the susceptibility for 

 individual drugs ; for idiosyncrasy, which can only be discovered 

 by observing the action of the agent on the particular subject ; 

 and for the influence of disease when that is likely to affect the 

 action. Thus, in most diseases of the brain and spinal cord, 

 and in some impactions of the stomach, double the usual 

 quantities of purgative medicine will be necessary, while in 

 influenza and other low fevers half the usual doses may prove 

 fatal. In acute congestion of the brain, stimulating narcotics 

 (opium, belladonna, hyoscyamus) would aggravate the symp- 

 toms, etc. 



3. FREQUENCY OF ADMINISTRATION. 



Anodynes, Antispasmodics, Narcotics, Sedatives, and Stimu- 

 lants may generally be repeated once in four or six hours in 

 order to maintain their effect. Alteratives, Diaphoretics, 

 Febrifuges, Refrigerants, and Tonics may be administered twice 

 daily. Purgatives should only be given when necessary, and 

 should never be repeated until from the lapse of time we are 

 assured that the first dose is to remain inoperative. Thus, 

 unless in urgent need, a horse should not take a second 

 dose of physic under thirty- six hours after the exhibition of the 

 first, and in all cases, until the medicine has worked off, he 

 should be kept at rest and allowed only warm bran mashes and 

 water with the chill taken off". In ruminants a second dose 

 may be ventured on in twelve or sixteen hours, and in carnivora 

 and omnivora in from seven to ten hours. Emetics should be 

 given in full doses and repeated in five or ten minutes if they 

 fail to take effect, their action being further solicited by copious 

 draughts of tepid water and tickling of the back of the mouth 

 with a feather. 



