COMMON MEDICINES 289 



further than tliat the person who is giving opium preparation 

 of any kind to any domestic animal must not forget that it 

 checks intestinal secretion and peristaltic movements of the 

 intestines, and in this way may cause decided constipation at 

 just a time when this would be serious. 



DOSE HORSES CATTLE SHEEP HOGS 



Morphine sulphate . . . 3-5 gxs. 3-8 grs. 1/2-2 grs. 1/2-2 grs. 

 Tincture opium (hiu- 



danum) 1-2 ozs. 1-3 ozs, 2-6 drs. 2-6 drs. 



The tincture should be diluted with water or sirup the same 

 as for alcohol. 



Morphin is an active principle of opium, and has the essen- 

 tial physiological properties of opium. Cattle and sheep take 

 very large doses. Morphin and various preparations of opium 

 are sometimes employed in spasmodic colic and may be com- 

 bined with stimulants or anodynes like ether, sweet spirits of 

 niter or chloral hydrate. It is usually advisable to give a laxa- 

 tive soon after the opium. All opium preparations must be 

 used with great caution, even in relieving pain. They may mask 

 important sj-mptoms and by arresting secretion and excretion, 

 they may do more harm than good. 



Astringents 



Alum (potassium sulphate). — An astringent and styptic.^ 

 This is not much used internally in veterinary practice. Within 

 recent years very large doses have been used internally and with 

 good results in laminitis. (See Lecture XLVI.) 



Alum is soluble in cold water, 1 :*9, and very soluble in hot 

 water. It is antiseptic, astringent and mildly caustic, locally 

 it coagulates albumin and checks secretion. In the circulation, 

 alum constricts the capillaries. 



It is more commonly used externally for its astringent and 

 mild caustic action on profuse granulations, and "weeping" 

 surfaces, and for its antiseptic and astringent effect in stopping 

 leakage of synovia from an open joint with small puncture. 



Alum is a common ingredient of astringent and antiseptic 

 dusting powders. 



Dose. — The usual dose for internal use for horses and cattle 

 is 1 to 4 drams, well diluted. 



' A styptic checks hemorrhage, aids coagulation. 



