DISEASES OF ANIMALS 



159 



in the rectum or by inhalation from hot 

 water. Some powdered drugs may be 

 blown into the nostrils, where a local 

 effect is desired. All irritating medi- 

 cines should be mixed with a larger 

 quantity of bran or water in order to 

 render them harmless. Medicines are 

 commonly classified into various groups, 

 according to their physiological effect 

 and a few of these classes of medicines 

 may be briefly defined. 



Antiseptics are substances which 

 check or prevent the growth of bacteria 

 and parasitic fungi. The most common 

 ones are table salt, corrosive sublimate, 

 carbolic acid, iodoform, zinc chloride, 

 iodine, iron chloride, formalin, blue 

 vitriol and lunar caustic. 



Disinfectants and deodorizers are 

 used for similar purposes and also to 

 absorb moisture and disagreeable odors. 

 The most important disinfectants fox 

 veterinary use are chloride of lime, com- 

 mon lime, sulphurous acid, formalin 

 and permanganate of potash. 



Anesthetics are chemicals which pro- 

 duce insensibility or loss of conscious- 

 ness. General anesthetics are given by 

 inhalation, and the most common ones 

 are chloroform, ether, a mixture of these 

 drugs and nitrous oxide. Local anes- 

 thetics produce insensibility in the part 

 to which they are applied. Good ex- 

 amples of this group of drugs are co- 

 caine, carbolic acid, extreme cold, as, 

 for example, from the evaporation of 

 ether and aconite. 



Anodynes are substances which re- 

 lieve pain and include hot or cold water, 

 belladonna, cocaine, chloral hydrate, 

 opium, morphine, etc. 



Anthelmintics vermicides or vermi- 

 fuges are substances used to expel or 

 destroy worms. A number of thes. are 

 used, including various purgatives, gas- 

 oline, turpentine, carbon bisulphide, etc. 

 Alteratives are substances which neu- 

 tralize or counteract the formation of 

 disease products in the blood. The ones 

 most frequently used include mercury, 

 iodine, arsenic, etc. 



Narcotics are drugs of which the ef- 

 fects are too well known to require 

 description. In treating domestic ani- 

 mals, opium, Indian hemp, chloral hy- 

 drate and belladonna are most frequent- 

 ly used. 



Purgatives, laxatives or cathartics 

 are substances used for the purpose of 



loosening the bowels. In veterinary 

 medicines, the most important purga- 

 tives are Glauber salts, Epsom salts, 

 aloes, castor oil, Croton oil and jalap. 



Vesicants are blistering reagents, the 

 commonest ones being cantharides or 

 Spanish fly, Croton oil, strong acids, 

 biniodide of mercury, silver nitrate, etc. 

 In the following paragraphs brief 

 notes are given on the action and doses 

 of some of the common drugs used in 

 veterinary practice. 



Aconite lowers the temperature by 

 weakening the pulse and causing an in- 

 creased perspiration. Doses for horses, 

 20 to 30 drops; for cattle, 40 drops; for 

 sheep, 3 to 5 drops; for dogs, 1 drop. 

 Aloes i s a purgative generally admin- 

 istered to horses; dose for the horse, 4 

 to 6 drams; for the dog, y 2 dram. 



Areca nut i s a well known vermifuge; 

 dose for horses, cattle and mules, % to 

 1 dram. 



Aromatic ammonia i s a stimulant and 

 antidote for acid poisons ; dose for horses 

 and cattle, y 2 to 4 ounces; for sheep, 

 % oz. 



Arsenic IS a n alterative and nerve 

 tonic ; dose for horses, 5 grains ; for cat- 

 tle, 5 to 8 grains; for sheep, 1 grain. 



Bismuth subnitrate produces a coat 

 on the stomach and intestinal walls and 

 soothes irritation in cases of diarrhea; 

 dose for horses, 2 drams; for sheep, 20 

 grains; for dogs, 5 to 10 grains. 



Bromide of potash lowers the tempera- 

 ture and checks nervous excitement; 

 dose for horses, 2 to 6 drams; for sheep, 

 1 to 2 drams ; for pigs, 1 dram ; for dogs 

 10 to 20 grains. 



Calomel i s a vigorous cathartic; dose 

 for horses, 15 to 60 grains; for sheep, 8 

 grains; for pigs 5 grains; for dogs, 1 

 grain. 



Cantharides when used locally is a 

 blistering agent and given internally it 

 is a stimulant ; dose for horses, 6 grains ; 

 for sheep, 4 grains; for pigs, 3 grains. 



Carbolic acid i s mostly used as an 

 antiseptic and disinfectant and should 

 be used in a solution in water at the rate 

 of 1 part to 100 parts. 



Castor oil [ s & mild purgative of great 

 value. Dose for horses, 1 pint; for cat- 

 tle, V-/-2 pints; sheep, % of an ounce; 

 dogs, Y 2 an ounce,, 



Catechu i s a n astringent and useful 

 in checking diarrhea. Dose for horses, 2 



