THE PULSE. 1037 



or abdominal organs, which calls immediately for sedatives. Take, 

 for example, general colic -treatment. Usual colic dose: 



1 to 2 ozs. laudanum, * 



1 to 2 ozs. sweet spirits nitre, 



1 to 2 drachms tincture belladonna, 



| to a pint of linseed oil 



If tympanitis (flatulent colic), would add to the above one- 

 half to one ounce tincture Jamaica ginger, and one-half to one 

 ounce aromatic spirits of ammonia, with a few drops tincture nux 

 vomica, every one-half 

 hour, until relieved. 



Quick and feeble pulse 

 indicates the lungs being 

 involved. Moderately 

 rapid, and throbbing or 

 bounding pulse would in- 

 dicate inflammation of 

 the extremities, such as 

 laminitis, and to be 

 treated as such. "While 

 an irregular pulse-beat, 

 whether fast or slow, 

 would indicate the heart 



itself being involved , 



, . , , FIG. 883. Feeling the pulse. 



which is to be treated 



by giving medicines that act upon the heart, such as alcoholic 

 stimulants, belladonna, and digitallis. The first two stimu- 

 late the heart, the last is a heart sedative. Of alcohol, brandy, 

 etc., give 2 to 4 ounces, with same quantity of water, for a dose; 

 tincture of belladonna, 10 to 12 drops > which may be given in 

 small doses every hour for an unlimited time, or in 1 to 2 drachm 

 doses twice a day, not to be longer than a few days. Digitallis 

 being a heart sedative, must be used with greater caution ; from 

 15 to 60 drops of the tincture may be given twice a day for two 

 to four days, or until the heart's action becomes slower. This 

 drug has accumulative properties that is, it may not seem to act 

 for some time; and then act with such great force as to be fatal, 

 HamUl. 



