507 



cau be coaxed to take care of, must be emploj'ed to give the nutriment 

 which is tlie onlj^ thing that will i)ermanently strengthen the tissues, 

 and thej^ must be strengthened in order to keep the capillaries at their 

 proper caliber. 



Laxatives, diaphoretics, and diuretics must be used to stimulate the 

 emunctories so that thej' shall carry off the large amount of the prod- 

 ucts of decomposition, which result from the stagnated effusions of 

 anasarca. Of these the sulphate of soda in small repeated doses, and 

 the nitrate of i)otash and bicarbonate of soda in small quantity, 

 and the chlorate of iwtash in single large doses, Avill be found useful. 

 "Williams cites the chlorate of potash as an antiputrid ; it is useful, I 

 believe, because it frees oxj^gen, and oxygen is a chemical purifier. 



Stimulants and astringents are directlj^ indicated. The animal 

 wants wakening up, everything in it wants a shock, and a belt to 

 hold it in j)lace. Spirits of turpentine serves the double purpose of 

 a cardiac stimulant and a powerful warm diuretic, for the kidneys 

 in this disease will stand a wonderful amount of work. Camphor 

 can be used with advantage. Coffee and tea are two of the dif- 

 fusible stimulants v.'hich are too much neglected in veterinary 

 medicine; both are valuable adjuncts in treatment in anasarca, as 

 the}' are during convalescence at the end of any grave disease 

 which has tended to render the patient ansemic. Dilute sulphuric 

 acid and hydrochloric acid are perhaps the best examples of 

 a combination of stimulant, astringent, and tonic which can be 

 emj)loyed. The simx)le astringents of mineral origin, suli)hates of 

 iron, copper, etc., are useful as digestive tonics; I doubt if they have 

 any constitutional effect. The vegetable astringents, tannic acid, 

 etc. , have not i)i'Oved efficacious in my liauds. Iodide of potash in 

 small doses serves the triple purpose of digestive tonic, denutritive 

 for inflammation, and diuretic. 



Externally. — Sponging the swollen parts, especially the head, when 

 the swelling occurs here, is most useful. The bath should be at an 

 extreme of temijerature — either ice-cold to constrict the tissues, or hot 

 water to act as an emollient and to favor circulation. Vinegar may 

 be added as an astringent. When we have excessively denuded sur- 

 faces, suppuration, or open wounds, disinfectants should be added to 

 the wash. 



In cases of excessive swelling, especially of the head, mechanical 

 relief may be required. Punctures of the jmrt should be made with 

 the hot iron even in country practice, as no other disease so predis- 

 poses to septic contamination. When mechanical asphyxia is threat- 

 ened tracheotomy may be demanded. Here, again, the liot iron 

 should be used, and disinfectant applications should be constantly 

 applied. With the first evidence of dyspnwa, not due to closing of 

 the nostrils or glottis, or with the first pawing which gives rise to a 

 suspicion of colic, a mustard plaster should be applied over the whole 



