QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 307 



State the dose of quinine as an antipyretic and tell how often the dose 

 should be repeated. 

 Two drachms, repeated every three or fours hours. 



What is an anaesthetic? Give the uses of anaesthetics. Mention 

 three examples of each of the two great classes of anaes- 

 thetics. 

 An anaesthetic is an agent which diminishes or abolishes sensa- 

 tion. It is used to prevent pain and struggling during surgical 

 operations, in obstetrical operations, reduction of fractures, dislo- 

 cation and hernias, to overcome spasms and convulsions resulting 

 from disease or poisons, and finally to destroy aged or sick and 

 useless animals. Local anffisthetics are sometimes used in making 

 diagnoses of lameness. 



Local: Cocaine, alypin, and stovaine. 



General: Ether, chloroform, and nitrous oxide. (Chloral hy- 

 drate is often used as a general anaesthetic.) 



Name three local anaesthetics and describe the mode of application of 

 each. 



1. Cocaine hydrochloride. Dose for the horse, 2 to 10 grains, 

 hypodermicaUy. Used in 4 to 10 per cent, solution, injected under 

 the skin. 



2. Eucaine hydrochlorate. Used same as cocaine. 



3. Phenol. Applied to the skin over the line where an incision 

 is to be made. 



What is morphine? Describe the actions and uses in medicine of 

 morphine. State the hypodermic dose for (a) the horse, 

 (b) the dog. 



Morphine is an alkaloid obtained from opium. It occurs in 

 colorless or white crystals, or as a crystalline powder, odorless and 

 having a bitter taste. 



It is hypnotic, anodyne, narcotic, nervous sedative, and anti- 

 spasmodic. 



Used in eclampsia in bitches ; useful in painful cough ; relieves 

 pain in spasmodic colic, pleurisy, and dyspnoea. Used to prevent 

 straining in eversion of the rectum or uterus ; also used in "thumps" 

 (spasms of the diaphragm) and as an anaesthetic for surgical opera- 

 tions on dogs. 



(a) 3 to 5 grains, (b) Vie to Vi grain. For surgical anaesthesia 

 1 to 2 grains are given hypodermicaUy to dogs. 



