320 DRUGS ACTING UPON THE GENITAL ORGANS 



mended in colic and muscular cramps, hence the name, cramp-bark. 

 It is of no importance in veterinary medicine. 



GALACTAGOGUES 



Synonyms. Lactics, Galacties, Stimulants to Milk Secretion 



These are agents which increase the secretion of milk. 



Action and Uses. The different defects in milk secretion are 

 very important in cattle practice. The best known conditions are 

 agalactia (absence of milk), watery milk, excessively fat milk, pre- 

 mature curdling, failure to butter, putrid, roapy, blue, red and yel- 

 low milk. Beginning with premature curdling, the rest of the de- 

 fects are due to external infection and should be treated as such. 



Galactagogues may be grouped as direct and indirect, the former 

 acting directly upon the udder and the latter upon the general con- 

 dition of the animal. Since most remedial defects result from di- 

 gestive and other disturbances, an improvement in condition will 

 bring about an increase in the amount of milk. The indirect galacta- 

 gogues include especially the aromatic bitters and alkalies which im- 

 prove digestion and consequently increase the milk secretion. 



Cutaneous stimulation applied directly to the udder stimulates 

 the secretion reflexly and is an indirect galactagogue. Frequent 

 milking, rubbing the udder with nettles, or the application of elec- 

 tricity will show the same result. 



Sulphur, antimony preparations and probably solution of the 

 pituitary body are direct galactagogues. The first two produce the 

 same activity in the mammary glands as upon other glands of the 

 body while pituitary extract is believed to increase milk secretion 

 through a direct action on the gland together with an increase in 

 •blood pressure. It is not clear just how the secretion of milk may 

 be influenced but it is believed that the mammary glands are subject 

 to several influences as in case of other glands. 



Solution of the pituitary body will increase the amount of milk 

 and fat for a short period of time in healthy animals. The results ob- 

 tained with eserine, pilocarpine and pilocarpidine are contradictory. 

 With the exception of solution of the pituitary body these agents have 

 generally proved unsuccessful in healthy animals. 



ANTIGALACTAGOGUES 



Synonyms. Antigalactics, Lactifuges, Alactics 



These are agents which decrease the secretion of milk. 



It is sometimes necessary to decrease the secretion of milk, 

 especially so in some cases of nonpregnant bitches in estrum. It 

 may also be desired when the animal is to be fattened or in ani- 

 mals in which lactation persists after death or removal of the off- 



