272 INORGANIC AGENTS 



change. It supplies force and is a food. Alcohol is a 

 diuretic, diarphoretic, and antipyretic in lessening tissue 

 change and dilating peripheral vessels, and in causing 

 sweating. 



Acute Poisoning. — In coma and muscular relaxation, the 

 treatment consists in the external application of heat and 

 counter-irritant; while strychnine, digitalis and atropine 

 should be given subcutaneously and followed up with 

 ammonia by the mouth. 



Uses External. — Alcohol is applied to the unbroken skin, 

 on cotton or lint, to bruises, for its local refrigerant and 

 astringent action in relieving pain and congestion. Diluted 

 with one or two parts of water, alcohol forms an antiseptic 

 and local anaesthetic application to wounds, and like most 

 antiseptics, relieves itching, particularly when combined 

 with 1 to 2 per cent, of carbolic acid. 



Uses Internal. — Digestive Tract. — Alcohol is a useful 

 remedy to promote appetite and assist digestion. The drug 

 should be given immediately before eating or v/ith the food, 

 properly diluted, and often advantageously with egg and 

 milk during fever or convalescence from acute diseases. 

 Alcohol is frequently combined with bitters, as compound 

 tincture of gentian, when employed as a stomachic. 



Acute Diseases. — Alcohol finds its greatest field of useful- 

 ness in the treatment of febrile diseases, notably influenza 

 and pneumonia in horses. A high temperature does not 

 contra-indicate the use of alcohol, but it is not desirable in 

 the first stages of acute inflammatory disorders. Alcohol 

 is particularly serviceable in asthenic diseases, and in 

 continued fevers associated with general depression, as 

 septicaemia. Alcohol is more readily burned up in fever, 

 aids digestion, lessens oxidation and tissue waste, supplies 

 force and is a food. Alcohol stimulates the nervous system 

 and bridges over a period when artificial stimulation is 

 necessary. This drug may reduce temperature, but larger 

 doses are needed for this purpose {i.e., to cause vasomotor^ 

 depression and interference with the ozonizing functioDf .:3 



