ACTION OF IRON AND ITS SALTS 157 



assist peristalsis. The dried ferrous sulphate is prescribed to horses in 

 anemia^ and is the most common constituent of tonic powders. It is fre- 

 quently combined with powdered-gentian, nux vomica, arsenic, and bicar- 

 bonate of sodium. Sodium bicarbonate is useful in indigestion and lessens 

 the astringent action of sulphate of iron in neutralizing the acid set free 

 from the salt. Nux vomica relieves constipation. A common and useful 

 preparation for the horse is as follows : 



y^ 



Sodii bicarbonatis. 



Pulv. nucis vomicBB ....aa 3ii. 



Perri sulphatis exsicc 3i. 



M. at f. pulv, 1. Dispense pulv. tales No. xxx. 



S. Give one powder on the feed three times daily. 



Ferrous sulphate is given in anemia secondary to chronic indigestion, 

 intestinal parasites, leukorrhea, ozena, albuminuria, and in convalescence 

 from acute diseases. Ferrous sulphate is in itself an anthelmintic, but, to 

 get its full effect when used for this purpose in the treatment of round 

 worms in the horse (ascarides), it should be given twice daily on the food 

 for ten days, and then a pint of linseed oil containing three ounces of oil 

 of turpentine is to be administered to complete the cure. In convalesc- 

 ence, iron may well be preceded by alcohol and bitters. Large doses of 

 iron sulphate are indicated in hemorrhage from the bowels, if unasso- 

 ciated with acute inflammation, as in purpura. In the latter disease, 

 sulphuric acid is a synergistic remedy. 



The saccharated ferrous carbonate may be given horses if they will 

 not voluntarily take the sulphate of iron on their food. It is a useful, 

 mild, non-astringent preparation for dogs, and may be given in powder, 

 or the mass may be dispensed in pills. 



The iodide of iron is thought to be of benefit in man in scrofulous 

 conditions, but as these states do not commonly occur in horses and dogs, 

 the drug is chiefly of value, in the form of the syrup, in rickets, and acts 

 almost as a specific in that form of polyuria afflicting horses during hot 

 weather, and also in mild cases of anasarca and dropsy. The syrup 

 should be prescribed undiluted and water should be added just before 

 administering the preparation. If prescribed with water, the syrup will 

 undergo decomposition if allowed to stand for any length of time, The 

 syrup must be a fresh preparation, else free iodine is formed in it, which 

 will blacken the buccal mucous membrane. When the action of iodine 

 and iron is desirable, it is often better to prescribe them separately. 



The tincture of ferric chloride is a very powerful preparation. It 

 contains free hydrochloric acid. Alcohol constitutes three-quarters of its 

 bulk, and there are also some traces of ether. It was formerly thought 

 to be hydrochloric ether, arising from the action of the contained muriatic 

 acid on the alcohol of the preparation; but Weir Mitchell has shown it 

 to be nitrous ether. Ferric chloride is of itself diuretic, apart from any 

 action of nitrous ether in the tincture. The free acid aids digestion in 

 the stomach. The tincture of ferric chloride is locally stimulant and 

 astringent, and generally aids digestion; is diuretic, and in large doses, 

 owing to the alcohol which it contains, is somewhat stomachic. The tinc- 



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