114 INORGANIC AGENTS 



for their employment in the case of these animals. To assist the action, 

 ginger and molasses are given with Glauber's or Epsom salt, and often 

 an equal weight of sodium chloride. 



IJ Magnesii sulphatis Ibi 



Sodii chloridi _ ffiss 



Fluidextracti zingiberis Si 



Syrupi fusci 3iv 



Aquae Oii 



M. 



Sig. Give ai\ one dose to cow. 



When a speedy action is desired, Glauber's salt should be adminis- 

 tered with a large amount of water and thirst should be encouraged by 

 the addition of common salt. When, on the other hand, it is essential to 

 remove fluid and morbid effusions .from the body, the purgative salt should 

 be exhibited in concentration and the patient should be deprived of water 

 to a considerable extent. Glauber's and Epsom salts are not used so 

 commonly in canine practice as calomel and castor oil, but find more favor 

 with German than with English-speaking veterinarians. 



Sometimes salts are serviceable in irritable states of the bowels in 

 dogs (piles, duodenitis and intestinal catarrh) in teaspoonful doses ; and 

 when given every second day, as a laxative, in eczema. Vomiting, how- 

 ever, not uncommonly follows the ingestion of salts by dogs. 



Carlsbad salt forms a good cathartic for cage birds. About 3 grains 

 are added to an ounce of their drinking water in the case of small birds. 



Sodii Chloeidum. Sodium Chloride. NaCl. 

 (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Common or table salt, muriate of soda, sal commune or culinare, 

 chloruretum sodicum, E.; natrium chloratum purum, P. G. ; chlorure de sodium, 

 sel commun, sel de cuisine, Fr. ; chlornatrium, kochsalz, G. 



Derivation. — Mined in a native state and obtained by evaporation of brine, 

 spring or sea water. 



Properties. — Colorless, transparent, cubical crystals, or as a white, crystalline 

 powder, odorless, and having a purely saline taste. It is usually slightly hygro- 

 scopic. Soluble in 2.8 parts of water; slightly soluble in alcohol; insoluble in 

 ether or chloroform. Reaction neutral. 



Do«e.— Cathartic, C, Ibss-l, (250-500) ; Sh., gi-ii, (30-60). 



Action External. — Salt is a stimulant to the skin when applied in 

 concentrated solution. 



Action Internal. — Salt is an essential constituent of food necessary 

 to the composition of HCl in the gastric juice, and of blood plasma, from 

 which it is constantly eliminated in the urine. Herbiyorous animals 

 require sodium chloride in addition to that contained in their food; for 

 blood is rich in common salt, while vegetables abound more especially in 

 potassium salts. The potassium salts, according to Bunge, on entering 

 the blood bring about a chemical reaction, whereby sodium chloride circu- 

 lating in the plasma is split; the chlorine in sodium chloride combines 

 with potassium, while the acid, set free from the potassium salt unites 

 with sodium, and both products are swept away with the urine, thus 

 removing sodium chloride from the blood. This is only replaced by that 

 taken as food. Some doubt is cast upon this hypothesis by Lapicque, 



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