MATERIA MEDICA AND THERAPEUTICS. 143 



pyrin costs $3.25 per lb., phenacetin $1.00 per oz., acetanilid 35 

 cents per pound. Antipyrin, Phenacetin, Exalgine and Acetanilid 

 are not as much used as formerly ; should only be used when it 

 is essential that fever be quickly reduced when it is exceedingly 

 high, as in sun-stroke, for which give acetanilid iy 2 to 2 drs. 

 dissolved in 1 to ij^ ozs. arom. spts, of ammonia every 2 or 3 

 hours, and apply cold water or ice to the head and neck. 

 Acetanilid is also valuable as a dusting powder. 



ACIDUM BORICUM— BORIC ACID. 



Synonym, Boracic Acid. 



Properties.— Occurs m glittering white scaly crystals, sol- 

 uble in 26 parts of cold water, in 3 parts of warm water, and in 

 15 part j of alcohol. It is feebly acid. 



Dose. — Horses and cattle, 2 to 5 drs. ; dogs, 5 to 20 grs. ; 

 foals and calves, 20 to 30 grs. 



Actions. — It is a non-volatile, unirritating antiseptic, deodor- 

 ant and astringent, it arrests fermentation and putrefactive de- 

 composition, destructive of minute organisms, free from irritat- 

 ing effects in solution when applied to wounds : it lessens sup- 

 puration, and is as effective as carbolic acid, can be used in any 

 strength from the pure powder or saturated solution to the mild- 

 est form. 



Uses. — It is indicated for all purposes for which an anti- 

 septic is used ; it is used in diarrhoea in foals, calves and dogs, 

 combined with other drugs ; it has a slight astringent action of 

 itself ; it is excreted in the urine, consequently would exert its 

 influence on the bladder in cystitis, and cystic catarrh ; one part 

 in 800 prevents development of anthrax-bacilli ; useful in skin 

 diseases, also used in keratitis and catarrhal and purulent con- 

 junctivitis, 6 to 10 grs. to the oz. with atropine or cocaine when 

 very painful. Useful in distemper of dogs where the bowels are 

 affected, as an antiseptic. Boric-acid is preferred to carbolic 

 acid as an antiseptic for dogs. On account of the paralyzing 

 effect of carbolic acid on the nerves, it hinders the healing of 

 wounds to a certain extent, which the boracic acid does not. 



An efficient eye lotion is as follows : 



