USES OF CHLORAL 339 



purely soporific action is rarely required for the lower animals. The 

 spasmodic conditions benefited by chloral include colic, convulsion, chorea, 

 epilepsy, asthma, canine distemper, spasmodic cough, rigidity of the 

 uterine os in the first stage of labor, hysteria, cerebritis (to relieve motor 

 excitement), tetanus, and strychnine poisoning. In spasmodic or flatulent 

 colic, chloral is given dissolved in linseed oil and, vi^hile inferior to opium 

 as an anodyne, has the advantage of not inducing constipation and is 

 often a very successful remedy, as follows: 



Chloroformi oi, 



Chloral! hydrati glss. 



Olei lini Oi. 



M. 



S. Give at one dose for horse with colic 



It is the best remedy we possess for the treatment of convulsions in 

 dogs, apart from anesthetics. Ether may be administered during the 

 convulsion, and chloral is given simultaneously, or between the attacks, in 

 gr.x.-xx., per rectum, and repeated if necessary. For puppies the fol- 

 lowing mixture may be given in the treatment of fits : ♦ 



Chlorali hydrati gr.xvlii. 



Potassii bromidi 31. 



Syrupi pruni virginianae 3ii. 



Aquae menthae piperitae ad gi- 



M. 



S. Teaspoonful in water every 2 hours. 



Chloral is only indicated in chorea when the movements are so 

 severe that the animal cannot secure sleep or rest. In distemper in dogs, 

 chloral is used for the same purpose, when there is excessive cough and 

 restlessness. Chloral is of service in prolapse of the rectum, uterus and 

 vagina to relieve straining and aid in reduction and retention of the 

 organ. In such cases it should be given by the mouth. Chloral is given 

 per rectum in tetanus, so as to keep the animal continually narcotized, 

 and may be employed in conjunction with tetanus antitoxin. 



Spasm of the os uteri is relieved by chloral when given per rectum 

 in frequently repeated doses, until the safe physiological limit is reached. 

 Chloral is inferior to ether or chloroform as an anesthetic, because it is 

 not so safe, nor is the anesthesia so complete, but it relieves pain effec- 

 tually, and is more easily administered. It is combined, in order to pro- 

 duce anesthesia, with small doses of morphine, which decidedly enhance 

 the anodyne action of chloral. 



To prepare a horse for surgical operation, 3 grains of morphine sul- 

 phate and 1 grain of atropine sulphate may be injected under the skin, 

 followed in 10 minutes by an enema containing 1 ounce of chloral, with 

 1 ounce of acacia, in a pint of water; or chloral (§i-ii in 10 to 20 ounces 

 of water) may be used alone without the morphine and atropine as 

 follows : 



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