244 SPECIFICS FOR THE ALIMENTARY TRACT 



barb but of larger growth, and native to Asia. There are several 

 official preparations but the drug is not much used in veterinary 

 medicine. 



Preparations and Doses. 



Fluidextraci 100 per cent. 



Tinctura Bhei 20 per cent. — contains cardamon also. 



Tinctura Bhei Aromatica — 20 per cent, rhubarb, plus cinna- 

 mon, cloves, nutmeg. 



Pulvis Bhei Compositus, Compound Powder of Rhubarb. Rhu- 

 barb 25, magnesium oxide 65, ginger 10. 



Extractum Bhei, twice the strength of the crude drug. 



Syrupus Bhei 10 per cent. Doses. 3 j — iij ; 4. — 12. 



Syrupus Bhei Aromaticus 3 per cent. Doses. Same as for 

 syrup. 



* Mistura Bhei et Sodii. Sodium bicarbonate 35, fluidextract of 

 rhubarb 15, fluidextract of ipecac 3, glycerin 350, spirit of pepper- 

 mint 35, water to make 1000. 



Action. Rhubarb contains chrysophanic acid, emodin and rheo- 

 tannic acid. The chrysophanic acid is quite irritant, but it is ab- 

 sorbed before reaching the colon, so does not participate in the typical, 

 rhubarb action. Rhubarb is described as stomachic and astrin- 

 gent in small doses and laxative in large ones, but the astringent ac- 

 tion tends to assert itself even after the laxative action has been 

 induced. The aromatics enhance its astringent effect and explain 

 why the aromatic syrup is astringent and syrup of rhubarb is laxa- 

 tive. It is said that it does not produce purgation in horses and 

 cattle even in large amounts. 



Therapeutics. The uses of rhubarb closely follow its action. 



1. In small doses it serves as a bitter stomachic. 



2. In medium doses it is an astringent and is quite serviceable 

 in diarrheas of young animals. For this action it should be com- 

 bined with aromatics and sodium bicarbonate. 



3. As a laxative in young animals which are suffering from 

 constipation, rhubarb may be very serviceable. It is also very serv- 

 iceable in the early stages of diarrhea in these animals to sweep out 

 the irritant material from the intestines, and then to check in- 

 testinal movements. Combined with calomel it is a purgative for 



* Unofficial. 



