202 DEPRESSANTS TO PERIPHERAL NERVES 



glands are at first increased due to action upon the ganglion cells in 

 secretory nerves. Large doses stop all secretions through paralysis of 

 the same ganglia. 



Absorption and Excretion. Nicotine is rapidly absorbed. 

 Sufficient may be absorbed from the skin to produce toxic symtoms in 

 some animals. It is largely excreted through the kidneys, although 

 some is probably thrown off through the sweat and other glands, and 

 some is probably destroyed in the tissues. 



Toxicology. Nicotine is one of our strongest poisons. Two 

 drops placed on the tongue or rubbed into the gums of a small dog or 

 cat will cause death in a minute or two, 10 drops have killed a large 

 mastiff almost immediately. The fatal dose for horses is given at 10 

 drops of nicotine or % pound of tobacco. 



When taken per os nicotine causes irritation to the mouth, throat 

 and stomach with pain, nausea, vomiting (in some animals) and 

 purging. Tremors and clonic spasms of the muscles occur followed 

 by depression and paralysis. The respirations are slow and weak, 

 pulse rapid. The animal may go into collapse. 



Treatment. Evacuate the stomach and administer cardiac and 

 respiratory stimulants hypodermically, strychnine, alcohol, atropine, 

 and administer tannic acid per os as the chemical antidote. 



Uses. Tobacco is not a very useful therapeutic agent. Its 

 greatest use is probably as a parasiticide in mange of animals, espe- 

 cially sheep scab, although it is a very efficient parasiticide for lice, 

 fleas, etc., of the large animals. As it is absorbed from the skin, 

 larger amounts than can be given per os should not be applied. For 

 mange of sheep and other animals, it is used in decoctions (2 — 5 per 

 cent.) to which a definite amount of caustic potash or soda and car- 

 bolic acid have been added. The Prussian Government recommends 

 the following: Boil 7% kilograms of native grown tobacco with 50 

 liters of water for one half hour, strain, add 1 kilogram of liquid car- 

 bolic acid, and 1 kilogram of caustic potash and enough water to 

 make the mixture measure 250 liters. Use at a temperature of 35° C. 

 and the sheep should be kept in for two minutes. Then work the 

 surface of the body for two minutes more, after taking from the dip. 



Law's dip is as follows: Tobacco 16 pounds, oil of tar 3 pints, 

 soda ash 20 pounds, soft soap 4 pounds, water 50 gallons. Sufficient 

 for 50 sheep. Steep the tobacco for one-half hour, strain and add 

 the other ingredients at 70° E. 



Tobacco is not used internally in this country, but has been used 

 in Germany as a ruminatorium for cattle in doses of 2 ounces (30.0 

 gm.) with one-half pound of salt and one pound of Glauber's salts. 



SPARTEINE 



Sparteine is obtained from Cytisus scoparius, or broom tops. It 

 resembles coniine in action but is much less toxic. It differs from 



