I72 SYNOPSIS 01? VETERINARY 



ExTractum cocae fluidum — Fluid Extract of Coca. 



Dose. — Horse, 1 to 4 or 6 ozs. ; dogs, l / 2 to 2 drs. 



The action is due to the alkaloid cocaine, the salt of which 

 is Cocainae Hydrochloras; it occurs in coloiless, transparent 

 acicular crystals, or a white crystalline powder, without odor and 

 slightly bitter taste; soluble 2 parts in 1 of water, and 1 in 

 3)4 of alcohol ; a grain or two of salicylic acid to the ounce of a 

 solution preserves it. 



Dose of Cocainae Hydrochloras. — Horse, 5 to 20 grs. V 2 of 

 this for hypodermic uses. Dogs, 1-16 to 1 gr. ; not much used 

 internally. 



Physiological Actions. — In small doses it is a cerebral, car- 

 diac, respiratory, and nervous stimulant and diuretic ; overdoses 

 cause delirium with cardiac and respiratory failure. Cocaine is a 

 powerful local anaesthetic; used for horses in 4 to 10 per cent 

 solution, usually a 4 .to 6 per cent solution is strong enough for 

 ordinary operations, inject under the skin, into the muscular 

 tissue or over nerve trunks for minor operations ; applied to such 

 structures as the eye, glans penis, schneiderian membrane, tongue 

 or other delicate mucous surfaces, rectum, uterus, vagina, etc. 

 it causes profound but temporary anaesthesia over a small area; 

 it causes rapid and extreme dilation of the pupil. 



Antagonists. — Amyl nitrite or nitro-glycerin combats the 

 cardiac depression ; most direct antagonist is chloral ; morphine, 

 alcohol, opium and artificial respiration are also antagonistic. 



Therapy. — Cocaine is injected for minor operations to pre- 

 vent pain, such as neurectomy, removing tumors, operations on 

 the eyes, tongue, fistula?, firing, etc. Rubbing on the skin is a 

 failure ; inject. For dogs it should be used with caution, a 2 per 

 cent solution usually being enough, and as little as possible being 

 used. Not more than 30 minims. 



Cocaine anaesthesia appears in about five minutes and lasts 

 for about thirty minutes. It effects may be prolonged and the 

 danger of its use lessened by dissolving the cocaine in a 1 to 5000 

 adrenalin chloride solution. (Parke, Davis & Co.'s adrenalin 

 chloride, in normal salt solution preferable.) 



For painful eye affections the following is a useful prescrip- 

 tion: 



