REFRIGERANTS 501 



ing a contraction of the arteries, lessening the amount of blood supplied 

 to the part and the danger of chronic laminitis and dropped sole. If 

 convenient to a running stream, about the same results may be obtained 

 by standing the animal in it. 



Irrigation with cold water is done in inflammatory diseases of the 

 joints, tendons and feet. Running water may be permitted to flow con- 

 tinuously through perforated rubber tubes, connected with a tap, or used 

 as siphons and closed at their distal extremities. The holes may be made 

 in the tube with red-hot needles. The rubber tubes should be wound 

 about the limb or part and held in position by bandages. Leiter's ex- 

 pensive block tin tubes are easily bent and rendered useless by the move- 

 ments of our patients. The treatment of lacerated wounds by means of 

 a stream of water from a convenient hydrant, causes the part to granu- 

 late quickly and greatly facilitates the healing process, but care should 

 be taken not to allow the water to run over the wound more than three or 

 four hours at a time each day, otherwise the part will become "water- 

 logged" and tend to break down and slough rather than to fill in with 

 healthy granulation tissue. 



Cold Drinks are both refreshing and antipyretic in action. Cool 

 water should be placed where the patient can take it as he desires. In 

 stomatitis, tetanus and angina, cool water is distinctly grateful and com- 

 forting. In the latter two 'diseases, it should be arranged so that the 

 animal can reach it without bending the neck. The mouth can be rinsed 

 out continually, removing decomposing food and mucus, the thirst be 

 slaked and heat and inflammation relieved. 



Cold Enemata are valuable antipyretic agencies. From five to 

 fifteen quarts of cold water may be thrown up through a flexible rubber 

 tube, six feet long, far into the bowel of the horse. 



EvaporatirDg Solutions. — Ethyl chloride or ether spray may be ap- 

 plied for a short .time by means of an atomizer, to induce local anesthesia 

 of a part, through the powerful refrigeration produced in their evapora- 

 tion, and is most satisfactorily employed in conjunction with cocaine 

 injections. One turn of a cotton or linen bandage or a single thickness 

 of similar stuff, put about a part and wet continuously with cold water, 

 forms a good evaporating medium in allaying superficial inflammation and 

 pain. A mixture of clay, and equal parts of water, vinegar and diluted 

 solution of lead acetate, makes a cheap and efficient cooling application for 

 external use in the treatment of bruises and sprains. The paste should 

 be removed as quickly as it dries. 



Refrigerants. — Certain medicines either produce a subjective feeling 

 of coolness or actually cause it, applied externally or given internally. 

 The subjective sensation is due to some inexplicable action on the local 

 nerve supply. Some are stimulants and astringents, and diminish the 

 circulation in the part. Externally, acetate of lead, chloride of am- 

 monium, nitrate of potash, and vinegar, are used most frequently as 

 refrigerants. 



The mineral acids and salts of potassium and sodium, especially 

 potassium nitrate, are administered more commonly, internally, both for 

 their cooling effect and to allay thirst. 



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