DRUGS ACTING ON THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS 23 



Gastric sedatives and anti-emetics are agents used to relieve pain in 

 the stomach anl vomiting. These include : 



Ice" Cocaine 



Hot water Cerium oxalate 



Bismuth subcarbonate Lime water 



Bismuth subnitrate Minute doses of arsenic 



Carbon dioxide Minute doses of ipecac 



Hydrocyanic acid Minute doses of alcohol 



Morphine Minute doses of iodine 



Menthol Minute doses of silver nitrate 



Carbolic acid Chloroform 



Creosote Chloral 



Aconite Bromides 



BcUadonna Nitrites 



Hyoscyamus Brandy and champagne 



Most of these agents act locally, but opium and morphine, chloral, 

 the bromides, prussic acid and the nitrates act centrally. 



Uses of Gastric Sedatives and Anti-Ejnetics in Canine Practice 



It must be recognized that vomiting is merely a symptom. It is 

 therefore, essential to remove the cause. This may sometimes be accom- 

 plished by starving, the use of an emetic, or tepid water. If vomiting is 

 due to acute irritation of the stomach, as is frequently the case in dogs, 

 ice and bismuth subnitrate (gr.x-xx), with tincture of aconite (TlXi-ii), 

 form suitable remedies. When vomiting arises from indigestion and fer- 

 mentation, carbolic acid with bismuth often acts favorably. The vomit- 

 ing following anesthesia is probably of central origin. Here enemata of 

 laudanum (Tri,x-xxx) and sodium bromide (gr.xx-xxx) are beneficial 

 Ipecac, iodine, silver nitrate and the like are useful in vomiting dependent 

 upon an atonic or depressed state of the stomach. When vomiting is 

 continuous, small quantities of milk and lime water, equal parts, or pep- 

 tonized milk (3ii-iv) or a dram of cracked ice with a few drops of 

 brandy, should be given at half-hour inter^'als. It may be rarely neces- 

 sary to resort to rfectal feeding. 



Purgatives or^ cathartics are agents which empty the bowels. They 

 act: (1) By stimulating peristaltic action. (2) By increasing the secre- 

 tions (succus entericus) of the intestinal glands and, perhaps, transuda- 

 tion of fluid from the blood vessels in the walls of the intestines. (3) 

 By hindering absorption of secretions and fluids which normally occurs 

 in the lower bowels. (4) By a combination of two or more of these 

 methods. Piirgatives may be divided into: 



1. Laxatives. — These include such agents as: 



Olive oil Linseed oil ) ^^^^^ ^„gg 



Cottonseed oil Castor oil ) 



Magnesia Liquid petrolatum and other 



Sulphur mineral oils (mechanical 



Nux vomica lubricant, not absorbed) 



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