ANTIMONII ET POTASSII TARTRAS 395 



papules, vesicles, and pustules, and diffuse abscesses if the applica- 

 tion is long continued. 



Internally. Tartar emetic is an emetic, expectorant and ver- 

 micide. If given in fair doses (1 — 3 grains) to a dog, there is an 

 increase in secretions from the salivary and bronchial glands and 

 emesis in from 5 to 15 minutes. The action is persistent and is 

 accompanied by much nausea and followed by depression. In 

 smaller doses it acts as an expectorant. It is generally believed that 

 there is no direct action upon the glands of the bronchi but that the 

 action is due to a slight nausea caused by a direct irritant action 

 upon the walls of the stomach. The emesis is probably also due 

 entirely to local irritant action upon the walls of the stomach, 

 although some writers believe that there is some action upon the 

 vomiting center, since it will produce emesis if given subcutaneously 

 or intravenously ; but Dixon says, " If the drug is introduced sub- 

 cutaneously vomiting is still induced, in which case not only are 

 larger doses required, but it takes longer to act. This forms a con- 

 clusive proof of its peripheral action, and there is no reason to sup- 

 pose that it has any direct action upon the center." 



Horses do not vomit and stand relatively large doses. Cattle 

 may show active movements of the rumen and may vomit after large 

 doses. For this reason it has been used as a stimulant for that 

 organ. 



Large doses cause violent abdominal pain, watery discharges from 

 the bowels, collapse and death. 



Absorption and Elimination. Absorption is very slow but is 

 sufficient if the drug is long continued to cause effects similar to 

 chronic arsenical poisoning. It is largely eliminated by the stomach 

 and intestines, but small amounts escape by the kidneys, skin and 

 respiratory tract. 



Treatment of Poisoning. This consists of administering tan- 

 nic acid as the antidote. Demulcents are also indicated. Treat the 

 coUapse or threatened collapse with stimulants. 



Summary of Action. Emetic, expectorant, vermicide, irri- 

 tant. 



Therapeutics. 1. Expectorant. It is an efficient expectorant 

 in acute bronchitis with hard cough and scanty secretions. It is 

 very serviceable here since the expectorant dose is much smaller than 

 that required for emesis. 



2. Emetic. It is a very marked emetic, but is not often used 

 because it produces so much prostration and is comparatively slow 

 in action. 



3. Vermicide. Especially for round worms of horses. For this 

 purpose 4 or 5 drams are dissolved in a pail of water and adminis- 

 tered to the animal upon an empty stomach as follows, % at 6 a. m., 

 % at 8 A. M., and the rest at 9 a. m. (Grimme.) 



