USES OF THE NITRITES 295 



diseases of the respiratory tract, as coryza, pliaryugitis, 

 laryngitis and bronchitis. Its vahie lies in its power of 

 dilating peripheral vessels, equalizing the circulation and 

 preventing local congestions. 



In assisting diarphoresis and diuresis, sweet spirit of 

 nitre hastens elimination of toxines and cools the body ; and 

 in both ways is useful in abating fever. The following 

 prescription may be of service in canine practice in febrile 

 conditions : 



Tine, aconiti irixxiv. 



Spiritus getheris nitrosi 3 vi. 



Potassii bromidi § ss. 



Liq. Ammonii acetatis ad § iv. 



M. 



Sig. Teaspoonful in water every 2 hours. 



In asthenic and febrile diseases, as influenza, sweet 

 spirit of nitre is of worth, combined with tonic doses of 

 quinine and alcoholic stimulants. 



The nitrites are the most successful remedies in reliev- 

 ing dyspnoea, when due to spasm of the bronchial tubes, or 

 congestion of the lungs. They relax the bronchioles and 

 avert congestion by vascular dilatation and equalization of 

 the circulation. Thus the dyspnoea occurring in pneumonia, 

 acute pulmonary oedema, asthma and chronic bronchitis, are 

 advantageously treated by half-hourly or hourly doses of 

 nitroglycerin. 



Cardiac Diseases, — These are comparatively rare in the 

 lower animals; but, in general, it may be said that no 

 remedy is more useful for its transient action in the severe 

 dyspnoea of cardiac diseases than nitroglycerin. The pas- 

 sing engorgement of the right heart and lungs is relieved 

 by nitroglycerin, which tends to distribute the blood about 

 the body in its proper channels, and thus takes the load off 

 the heart temporarily. 



General Stimulating Action. — In shock, heart failure, 

 with or without unconsciousness, in poisoning, as by an 

 anaesthetic, opium, cocaine, etc., and, in fact, whenever a 



