316 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



belladonna combined with opium do not interfere with the 

 soporific action of the latter, notwithstanding the exciting^ 

 influence of the former upon the brain. The bromides also 

 promote the sedative and hypnotic action of opium, and 

 lessen the depression and nausea following its administra- 

 tion. Opium often acts profoundly when combined with 

 chloral, and this combiuaiion is occasionally used to induce 

 anaesthesia (p. 301). Chloroform and ether are frequently 

 prescribed with opium to secure an additional antispasmodic 

 and anodyne action in colic. The astringents and mineral 

 acids enhance the effect of opium in diarrhoeal disorders. 



Codeine. — Codeine in large doses causes motor excite- 

 ment and convulsions in dogs and cats, but ph^^siological 

 experiments conducted by various observers have otherwise 

 yielded diverse results. This is explicable, since so-called 

 codeine is frequently in part morphine. Codeine is inferior 

 to morphine as an anodyne and hypnotic, but is a useful 

 sedative in relieving bronchial irritation and cough, and iu 

 the doses commonly employed does not induce indigestion, 

 nausea or constipation. The writer would particularly 

 recommend it for dogs suffering with bronchitis, combined 

 with phenacetin in powder or tablet. The other alkaloids- 

 of opium are not of sufiicient therapeutic value to warrant 

 their consideration in this woiL 



Administration. — Morphine sulphate is employed under 

 the skin where an immediate effect is required. The prepa- 

 rations more frequently used in veterinary practice include 

 laudanum and the deodorized tincture, powdered opium^ 

 extract of opium, and the salts of morphine. One-quarter 

 grain of the latter is equivalent to one grain of opium. 

 Paregoric is useful in canine practice for cough mixtures. 

 Dover's powder combines the expectorant and diarphoretie 

 action of ipecac with the sedative, antiphlogistic and sudo- 

 rific influence of opium, but the former drug has little effect 

 upon the horse. The preparation may be serviceable, how- 

 ever, in the first stage of catarrhal affections of the respira- 

 tory tract in dogs. 



