54 GEENRAL THERAPEUTICS FOR VETERINARIANS 



1. CHOLAGOGUES. STIMULANTS TO BILE SECRETION 

 Synonyms: Hepatics, hepatic stimulants, liver remedies. 



Actions and Uses. — Cholagogues increase the secretion of bile 

 by direct action upon the gland cells of the liver and in part by- 

 reflex stimulation from the stomach and intestines. They are 

 used in all diseases of the liver in which the secretion of bile is 

 decreased, as in icterus. According to the investigations of 

 Rutherford (British Medical Journal, 1877), which have been 

 recently amplified and confirmed by Ellenberger, Baum, Doyon, 

 Dufour, Wissogradow and others, two classes of cholagogues must 

 be recognized: (a) those which produce a laxative effect simul- 

 taneously with their action upon the liver and (b) those which 

 operate exclusively upon the liver. 



(a) The cholagogue laxatives are rhubarb, aloes, podophyllum, 

 jalap, colocynth, gamboge, colchicum, arecoline, pilocarpine, 

 eserine, euonymus, leptandra, baptisin, sodium sulphate, potas- 

 sium sulphate, sodium phosphate, Carlsbad salts and potassium 

 bitartras. 



(b) The simple cholagogues are sodium bicarbonate, sodium 

 salicylate, aspirin (acetyl-acidum salicylicum) and other salicy- 

 lates, benzoate of soda, ipecac and nitric acid. 



Calomel, epsom salts, castor oil and croton oil, which were 

 formerly valued as cholagogues, are on the contrary depressants 

 of bile secretion in consequence of their strong stimulant effect 

 upon the intestinal glands. They are therefore designated as anti- 

 cholagogues. Lead acetate also decreases the secretion of bile. 



Drugs. — 1. Rheum, aloe, sodii sulphas, sal Carolinum facti- 

 tium N.F. (artificial Carlsbad salts), etc. For doses, see under 

 Cathartics, pages 44, 45. 



2.4 Ipecacuanha. Ipecac. Dose for swine and dogs, 1-3, grs. 

 XV to xlv. 



3. Sodii salicylas. A very good cholagogue. Dose for horses 

 and cattle, 25-75, 5vj to 5ijss; swine, 2-5, 3ss to j; dogs, 0.25-2, 

 grs. jv to XXX. * Aspirin is given in the same doses. 



4. Acidum nitricum. Given to dogs in drop doses, diluted. 



