RAPID PURGATIVES 255 



6. Tetanus. Dawson and others have recommended epsom salts 

 in the treatment of tetanus. They administer 20 mils of a 10 per 

 cent, solution hypodermically every fifteen minutes. 



Poisoning by Magnesium Sulphate. Very concentrated 

 solutions of magnesium sulphate may not produce purgation, are 

 then absorbed and are poisonous. The symptoms are: marked de- 

 pression of the respirations, together with a curare-like action on the 

 motor end plates in striated muscle. The antidotes, according to 

 some authorities, are calcium and eserine. 



SODII SULPHAS — SODIUM SULPHATE 



Synonym. Glauber's Salt 



This salt occurs as large colorless transparent prisms or granular 

 crystals, odorless, bitter saline taste. Soluble in 2.8 per cent, of 

 water. Dose. Same as for magnesium sulphate. 



Sodii Sulphas Exsiccatus — Dried Sodium Sulphate. Dose. 

 One-half that of sodium sulphate. 



Its action and uses are similar to those of the previous drug, 

 but it seems to give better service in horses. It is particularly ser- 

 viceable in catarrhal icterus. It is not of so much benefit in lead 

 poisoning as the magnesium salt. Soditim sulphate is recommended 

 as an antidote to carbolic acid poisoning. It enters into the well 

 known artificial Carlsbad salt (Sal Carolinum Tactidum). 



U Sodii Sulphatis | y. 



Sodii Bicarbonatis s i] 



Sodii Chloridi 3 i 



M. Ft. Pulvis. 



OTHER SALINE PURGATIVES 



Potassii et Sodii Tartras, Potassium and Sodium tartrate (Eo- 

 chelle Salt), Magnesium oxide. Magnesium hydroxide (in the form 

 of milk of magnesia) and the carbonate are very weak laxatives and 

 rarely employed in veterinary practice. 



Potassium Citrate and Bitartrate (cream of tartar) are mild 

 laxatives, but are rarely used in veterinary medicine. 



For Materia Medica of these salts, see respective elements, Po- 

 tassium, etc., p. 347. 



B. SO CALLED RAPID PURGATIVES 



From our discussion of the actions of purgatives it will be evi- 

 dent that any drug which stimulates the vagus or motor nerve end- 

 -ngs in the intestines will be capable of increasing peristalsis and 

 producing purgation. From a number of agents which stimulate the 

 nerve endings of the above mentioned nerves, the following are the 

 only ones of importance: 



