USES OF ACIDS 365 



on account of the diminished internal respiration, the animal dies 

 from asphyxia before the blood becomes even neutral in reaction. 



The symptoms of acid intoxication are: gasping for breath, fol- 

 lowed by short shallow respirations until they cease entirely. The 

 heart grows progressively weaker and consciousness is lost. This 

 form of intoxication is not seen in man or dogs and is best explained 

 by the theory that they have a protective mechanism against this 

 form of poisoning. Carnivora and omnivora consume a considerable 

 amount of meat which causes the formation of acids. On the other 

 hand, since they do not consume large quantities of alkaline salts in 

 their food, their bodies easily form the alkaline ammonia which neu- 

 tralizes the acids injested or produced in their metabolism. The 

 carnivora excrete the acids mainly in the form of ammonium com- 

 pounds, and the increase in the ammonia is at the expense of the 

 urea which is correspondingly diminished; 



Acid intoxication may, however, be produced in carnivora, either 

 by subcutaneous or intravenous injections of amounts greater than 

 the body can take care of. In man a typical acid intoxication is seen 

 at the end of diabetic coma. In this condition oxybutyric and dia- 

 cetic acids are formed so rapidly that the protective phenomena are 

 unable to neutralize them, although large amounts of ammonia are 

 found in the blood and urine. 



Treatment. This is not very promising. Sodium bicarbonate 

 should be administered in large doses per os or per rectum. Main- 

 tain the circulatory and respiratory systems with stimulants. 



Elimination. Acids are excreted by the kidneys of herbivora 

 as the salts of potassium, from the carnivora as the salts of ammon- 

 inm. Since the body endeavors to retain all the alkali possible, it 

 throws them out as acid salts and occasionally as free acids. These 

 may cause irritation as stated previously. 



The organic acids as acetic, citric, lactic and tartaric are absorbed 

 as the salts of the alkalies and are oxidized in their passage through 

 the body, to carbonates and excreted as such by the kidneys, so that 

 they do not lessen the alkalinity of the blood after internal admin- 

 istration, nor render the urine more acid. 



Therapeutics. 



1. Caustics and escharotics. 



2. In dyspepsia due to diminished secretion of hydrochloric acid. 

 Hydrochloric or nitrohydrochloric acids are to be preferred for this 

 action and act best when administered with bitters. They are con- 

 traindicated in conditions with hypersecretion of mucus. 



3. Antidotes to poisoning by alkalies. 



4. They are useful in fevers in human medicine to allay thirst and 

 serve as mild diuretics. This is of but little importance to veterinar- 

 ians. 



