ACTION OP ACETANIUD, ANTIPYRIN AND PHENACETIN B05 



Elimination. — Antipyriu is rapidly eliminated unchanged 

 in the nrine. Acetanilid escapes in part unchanged, and in 

 part in the same manner as aniline, i. e., para-amido-phenol- 

 sulphate, while phenacetin is chiefly eliminated as such. 



Poisoning.— Toxic doses of these drugs cause, in the 

 lower animals, nervous excitement and convulsions, and 

 sometimes coma, loss of consciousness, staggering gait, 

 muscular failure, sweating, rapid, feeble respiration, weak 

 pulse, cyanosis, occasional vomiting in dogs, fall of tempe- 

 rature and general paralysis. 



Treatment. — External heat, alcoholic stimulants by the 

 mouth, rectum, or under the skin ; strychnine, and atropine 

 subcutaneously. 



Administration. — Antipyrin is given in solution by the 

 mouth, rectum, or under the skin. Acetanilid and phen- 

 acetin can be administered in powder, tablet, pill or ball ; or 

 in solution in alcoholic liquor. Acetanilid is to be preferred 

 for horses on account of its much greater cheapness. The 

 average dose of acetanilid is one drachm for a horse, and 

 three to five grains for a dog ; and the dose of phenacetin is 

 twice, and of antipyrin three times greater than that of 

 acetanilid. 



Uses External. — Acetanilid is employed as an antiseptic 

 dusting powder undiluted. A ten per cent, solution of anti- 

 pyrin may be applied as a haemostatic upon bleeding surfaces. 



Uses Internal. — There are three indications for the use 

 of these agents : 1. To lower temperature in fever. 2. To 

 relieve pain. 3. To lessen motor excitement and spasm. 



They are not so valuable in veterinary practice as in 

 human medicine, since the lower animals rarely suffer from 

 neuralgic pain, which is the special variety of suffering 

 alleviated by these drugs. 



Phenacetin is the most serviceable for dogs, as it is less 



toxic, more sedative, and more permanent in its antipyretic 



action than antipyrin or acetanilid. Dogs suffering from 



. distemper are greatly relieved by small and repeated doses 



of phenacetin, which lessen fever, cough and restlessness. 



