188 INORGANIO AGENTS 



of sodium. Sodium bicarbonate is useful in indigestion and 

 lessens the astringent action of sulphate of iron. A common 

 and useful prescription for the horse is as follows : 



Sodii bicarbonatis. 



Pulv. nucis vomicae aa 3 ii. 



Ferri sulphatis exsicc 3 i. 



M. et f. pulv, 1. Dispense pulv. tales no. xxx. 

 S. Give one powder gn the feed three times daily. 



Ferrous sulphate is given in anaemia secondary to chronic 

 indigestion, intestinal parasites, leucorrhcea, ozoeua, albumi- 

 nuria, ?.nd in convalescence from acute diseases. lu conva- 

 lescence, iron may well be preceded by alcohol and bitters. 

 Large doses of iron sulphate are indicated in haemorrhage 

 from the bowels, if unassociated with acute inflammation, as 

 in purpura. In the latter disease, sulphuric acid is a syner- 

 gistic remedy. 



The saccharated ferrous carbonate may be given horses 

 if they will not voluntarily take the sulphate of iron on 

 their food. It is a useful, mild, non-astringent preparation 

 for dogs, and may be given in powder, or the mass may be 

 dispensed in pills. 



The iodide of iron is thought to be of benefit in man in 

 scrofulus conditions, but as these states do not commonly 

 occur in horses and dogs, the drug is of no value except in 

 rickets. When the action of iodine and iron are desirable, 

 it is often better to prescribe them separately. 



The tincture of ferric chloride is a very powerful 

 preparation. It contains free hydrochloric acid. Alcohol 

 constitutes three-quarters of its bulk, and there are also 

 some traces of ether. It was formerly thought to be hydro- 

 chloric ether, arising from the action of the contained 

 muriatic acid on the alcohol of the preparation ; but Weir 

 Mitchell has shown it to be nitrous ether. Ferric chloride 

 is of itself diuretic, apart from any action of nitrous ether 

 in the tincture. The free acid aids digestion in the stomach. 

 The tincture of ferric chloride is locally stimulant and 



