22 GENERAL ACTION OF DRUGS 



Emetics. 



Specific Mixed Local 



Apomorphine Tartar Emetic Tepid water 



Lobeline Ipecac Mustard 



Morphine * Copper Sulphate Salt 



Senega Zinc Sulphate Alum 



Squills Ammonium Carbonate 



Apomorphine is the only emetic given hypodermically. It also acts 

 well by the mouth, but causes more nausea and allied effects than drugs 

 acting locally. Morphine and lobeline given for other purposes fre- 

 quently induce emesis also, particularly if the dose be large. 



Mustard and salt, 1 teaspoonful each, in a cup of lukewarm water, 

 form a convenient emetic for dogs. Ipecac is useful in respiratory dis- 

 eases as an expectorant as well as emetic, and zinc sulphate is a prompt 

 emetic in poisoning. The other emetics are practically unimportant. 



Emetics cause, beside vomition, several other phenomena which are 

 sometimes utilized therapeutically. Among these may be mentioned 

 nausea, salivation, violent respiratory efforts, compression of the abdomi- 

 nal glands and ducts and extrusion of their contents, passive congestion 

 of the head, chest, and peripheral parts by reason of compression of the 

 abdominal veins. Increased secretion of the mucous membranes of the 

 nose, eyes, stomach, gullet and bronchial tubes follow passive congestion. 

 Muscular relaxation always accompanies nausea, and sweating ensues 

 from relaxation of the skin and leaking out of the secretion. The flow 

 of bile is increased on account of pressure on the liver and gall-bladder, 

 while the secretion is also augmented. 



The pulse and respiration are more frequent during emesis, but are 

 diminished in force and frequency afterwards. All these phenomena are 

 more apparent after the use of specific emetics. 



Uses. — These apply particularly to dogs. 



1. To empty the stomach in, case of poisoning, over-loading of the 

 organ, and indigestion with convulsions in young animals : — Mustard, salt 

 or zinc sulphate. 



2. To expel foreign bodies from the fauces and gullet (apomorphine 

 subcutaneously) ; or, by the forcible expiration attending vomition, to 

 expel excessive secretion or exudation from the air passages in laryngitis 

 or bronchitis : — Ipecac. 



3. To cure depraved appetite, pica or licking habit, where animals 

 lick foreign bodies; as wool eating in sheep, feather plucking in fowl, 

 etc. Here apomorphine is indicated. 



4. To lower blood pressure and increase secretion in the first stage 

 of bronchitis: — Ipecac. 



5. To stop vomiting: — Ipecac in minute doses. 



Contra-indications. — Pregnancy; hernia; inflammation of the stom- 

 ach, brain or abdominal viscera; bleeding from the stomach, bowels or 

 lungs ; aneurism and asthenia. 



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