ALTERATIVES, 83 



Various substances are used as alteratives ; as antimonials, and 

 the different preparations of mercury, iron, and tin. The nitrate 

 of potash (nitre), the supertartrate of potash (cream of tartar J, 

 aloes, salines, &c. &c. &c., are excellent alteratives. Tartarized 

 antimony (emetic tartar) often proves a very useful alterative in 

 the chronic asthmatic cough to which dogs are subject, given as 

 an emetic once or twice a week, in doses of one grain to three. 

 Antimonial powder, or James's Powder, may also be given with 

 benefit as an alterative in similar cases. Crude antimony is often 

 found useful in the diseases of the skin ; but it is unfortunately 

 very uncertain in its operation : that is, some dogs will bear a 

 considerable quantity, while others cannot even take a small one 

 without violent sickness : the usual dose is from half a scruple to 

 half a drachm. Nitrate of potash (nitre) is a very useful alter- 

 ative to dogs, for hot itching humours and redness of the skin, in 

 doses of four grains to ten. The supertartrate of potash (cream 

 of tartar) may be so given likewise with benefit in larger doses, 

 in the same cases : all the preparations of mercury, though excel- 

 lent alteratives, require great caution when frequently repeated, 

 or regularly given ; for dogs are easily salivated, and salivation 

 produces very hurtful effects on them. 



Dogs when fully salivated lose their teeth very early, and their 

 breath continues ofl*ensive through life. The whole of the feline 

 tribe are also easily affected by mercury. I was requested to 

 inspect the very large lion that so long graced Pidcock's Menage- 

 rie. It may be remembered by many, that this noble animal's 

 tongue constantly hung without his mouth ; which arose from his 

 having been injudiciously salivated many years before by a mer- 

 curial preparation applied by the keeper for the cure of mange. 

 The submuriate of mercury (calomel) is, likewise, very irregular 

 in its action on dogs ; I have seen eight grains fail to open the 

 bowels of even a small one, while, on the contrary, I have been 

 called to a pointer, fatally poisoned by ten grains. It forms, how- 

 ever, a useful auxiliary to purgatives, in doses of three or four 

 grains ; and as it not unfrequently acts on the stomach, so it may 



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