INDICATIONS FOR DIAPHORETICS 325 



at the same time. The object is to compel the body to form its neces- 

 sary amount of water from combustion of the adipose tissue. Any 

 diaphoretic may be used except hot drinks. 



2. Remove Poisons. Either those substances introduced from 

 -without or formed in the body. They are quite valuable in poison- 

 ing by As., Pb., Hg., nicotine, morphine, and fevers. 



3. Reestablish a Disturbed Circulation in the Skin, and in 

 this manner relieve congestion of the internal organs. It is for this 

 purpose that they are employed in colds, rheumatism, etc., or a cold 

 skin from any cause. To relieve a local congestion as in pneumonia 

 or inflammation of the lungs, pleura, etc., the same or even better 

 results may be obtained by counterirritation. 



4. Relieve Inflamed or Overworked Kidneys. 



5. Increase the Alkalinity of the Tissues. In such cases as 

 gout, oxybutyric acid (diabetic coma), etc. For this purpose they 

 are of but little use in veterinary practice. 



6. Ophthalmology. They have been found useful in conges- 

 tive and exudative lesions of the uvealtract, in retinal displacements 

 and toxic blindness. They are of absolutely no value in atrophic 

 or cicatricial lesions. 



7. Reduce Temperature in Fevers. The most common 

 are: 



Pilocarpine Spirits of nitrous ether 



Opiuna Ammonium acetate 



Ipecac Warburg's tincture 



Pilocarpine is used principally in renal dropsies. It is not 

 usually effective in local effusion of an inflammatory nature as in 

 effusions in the pleura or pericardium. In the horse, the only dumb 

 animal which sweats uniformly, pilocarpine seems to have a more 

 specific action on the salivary than the sweat glands. Hence it is 

 of but little service as a sudorific. 



Opium. As a diaphoretic opium is usually given in the form of 

 Dover's powders. It has a mild sudorific effect and is useful in 

 breaking up acute catarrhal conditions of the respiratory tract and 

 relieving so-called muscular rheumatism. 



Spirits of Nitrous Ether. Therapeutic doses of this agent act 

 as mild diaphoretics, diuretics and antispasmodics. Its diaphoretic 

 effect is more marked if the patient is kept well covered while its 

 diuretic effect is more marked if the patient is not well covered. It 

 is useful as a diaphoretic in the mild febrile conditions of the young 

 in small doses well diluted with hot water repeated at frequent in- 

 tervals. 



Ammonium Acetate. This is usually used as the official solu- 

 tion — Liquor Ammonii Acetatis. It serves as either a diuretic or 

 diaphoretic according as to whether the patient is kept warm or cool. 



