MATERIA MfiDICA AND THERAPEUTICS. 225 



Medicinal uses of Croton-OH — Cattle are the only animals 

 for which it can be used with any degree of safety ; it can be 

 used for dogs and pigs if used with great caution. For horses 

 and sheep it is too irritating and depressing; is used in cattle as 

 an active hydragogue purgative when they suffer from farde! 

 bound, and other forms of constipation and from torpidity of the 

 bowels. Should not be used in debilitated, delicate or young 

 animals. If an over-dose has been administered combat with 

 demulcents, opium and stimulants. It should not be used as a 

 counter-irritant or applied to the skin in any form or for any 

 purpose. 



For cattle a purgative composed of 10 to 40 ms. of croton- 

 one with 1 dr. of calomel, y 2 lb. salt and 1 lb. of glauber salts is a 

 very active mixture, dissolved in water ; or linseed-oil 2 pints, may 

 be given . instead of the salts ; may be used for obstinate consti- 

 pation or torpidity of the bowels. 



MAGNESII SULPHAS— MAGNESIUM SULPHATE. 



Synonym. — Epsom Salt. 



Properties. — Small, colorless, rhombic prisms or acicular cry- 

 stals ; having a cooling saline and bitter taste. 



Slowly efflorescent in dry air, soluble in 1.5 parts of water; 

 insoluble in alcohol ; reaction neutral. 



Tncompatibles. — Lime waters, alkaline carbonates, phosphoric 

 acid, phosphates, silver nitrate and lead acetate. 



Dose. — Horse, when repeated several times daily as a laxa- 

 tive 2 to 4 ozs. ; as a purgative 16 to 24 ozs. ; cattle, laxative 3 to 

 6 ozs.; purgative 1J/2 to 2 lbs.; calves, 1 to 4 ozs.; sheep 4 to 6 

 ozs. ; dogs, 1 to 4 drs. 



For dogs sulphate of magnesia or sulphate of soda will cause 

 vomiting, unless nicely flavored. 



Physiological Actions. — Magnesium sulphate acts like sodium 

 sulphate, i. e., by increasing intestinal secretion, retarding absorp- 

 tion of the fluid and thus mechanically provoking increased peris- 

 talsis. 



It acts in from 12 to 16 hours ; in small doses it stimulates 

 the secretions of the kidneys and skin. 



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