26 SYNOPSIS OE VETERINARY 



thirst; as vegetable and mineral acids well diluted, cold water, 

 etc. 



On the stomach. — Ant-acids or alkalies are used to correct 

 acidity of the stomach, urine or blood. 



Stomachics. — Or gastric tonics, aid gastric digestion and in- 

 crease the appetite ; they act in different ways. 



1. Some stimulate the production of gastric juice, as the 

 alkalies before meals. 



2. Some stimulate the local circulation as the aromatic bit- 

 ters, and oils, alcohol, etc. 



3. Several act by exciting the activity of the nervo-mus- 

 cular apparatus of the stomach ; as nux-vomica, arsenic, hydras- 

 tis, dilute acids, etc. 



The various digestive ferments, as pepsin, papoid, ingluvin, 

 pancreatin, etc., are adjuvants to digestion, and are useful to 

 supplement the gastric juice when deficient in quantity and 

 quality. 



Emetics. — Agents which cause vomiting, and are divided into 

 two classes : Local, mechanical, or irritant emetics are those which 

 act by irritating the end organs of the gastric, oesophageal or 

 pharyngeal nerves, and cause vomiting by reflex irritation of the 

 vomiting center, as alum, mustard, solution of salt, sulphate of 

 zinc, tepid water, bitter infusions, etc. 



Systemic or General Emetics. — Act by direct irritation of 

 the vomiting center in the medulla, through the medium of the 

 circulation, the best of which is apomorphine, also ipecac, emetine, 

 tartar emetic, senega, squills, etc. 



Anti-Emetics or Gastric Sedatives. — Are agents which lessen 

 nausea and vomiting, some by a local sedative action upon the 

 end organs of the gastric nerves, called local gastric sedatives, as 

 cocaine, alum, calomel, bismuth sub-nitrate, and carbolic acid well 

 diluted. Others by reducing the irritability of the vomiting center 

 in the medulla, called general gastric sedatives, the principle of 

 which is hydrocyanic acid, morphine, bromides, amyl-nitrite, etc 



AGENTS ACTING ON THE INTESTINES. 

 Purgatives, carminatives, intestinal astringents, etc. 

 Purgatives or Cathartics. — Increase intestinal evacuations 

 in one or more of three ways. 



