DRUGS WHICH ACT UPON THE KIDNEYS, ETC. 475 



berry, appear, like nux vomica and its chief alkaloid (strychnia), to have 

 a tonic effect upon the muscular layers of the bladder, aiding it to contract 

 and expel its contents when from various causes there is difficulty in 

 doing so. 



REMEDIES WHICH ALLAY IRRITABILITY OF THE BLADDER 



The situation of the bladder renders it rather improbable that remedies 

 applied externally directly affect it. It is nevertheless common practice 

 to endeavour to influence it by application to the loins of poultices, 

 blisters, and various other medicaments. Drugs internally administered 

 have great effect upon the bladder, and should be given in bland fluids, 

 as linseed tea, milk, barley-water, &c. Opium and belladonna are found 

 to have the most soothing effect, whether administered in the- form of 

 draught or pessaries introduced into the canal. 



REMEDIES WHICH ACT UPON THE GENERATIVE ORGANS 



In this connection there is little to be said. Cantharides has often 

 been known to excite both male and female animals sexually, and its abuse 

 has induced many cases of bloody urine and strangury, inflammation of 

 the kidneys, and even death. 



Iodides have in some instances caused wasting of the testicles, and 

 in the mare, to savin and ergot abortion has been attributed. Only in 

 poisonous doses does the former so act upon the uterus, and the latter 

 appears to be quite innocuous if we are to accept the conclusions of con- 

 scientious experimenters. It is probable that the tendency of ergot to 

 diminish the calibre of the small blood-vessels and contract involuntary 

 muscles may have some modifying influence upon the uterus in cases where 

 labour pains or straining continue after parturition. Opium has also the 

 effect of a sedative or anodyne upon the womb of the mare in cases of 

 inflammation or undue excitement following upon foaling. Cocaine 

 injected in solution, or introduced in form of pessary, also stays those 

 expulsive efforts which too often result in inversion of the uterus, but its 

 influence is very evanescent, and it is best employed as a temporary 

 remedy while opium is gaining control of the parts implicated. 



