ESERINE. , 621 



or diluted with water up to 40 times its bulk ; and can be em- 

 ployed as a disinfectant in the sajne manner as carbolic acid. 



Jeyes' Creolin is a superior preparation to Jeyes' Fluid. For 

 surgical wounds 2| per cent, and for foul wounds 5 per cent, may 

 be used. Despite the statements made by the manufacturers of 

 these and other proprietary antiseptics, the fact remains that all 

 antiseptics and disinfectants are more or less poisonous. 



Epsom Salts {Sulphate of Magnesia) 



is a useful laxative in fevers, chest affections, and in derangements 

 of the liver. Its action as a purgative is somewhat uncertain. It, 

 can be used when the dung is hard, clay-ooloured — indicating sup 

 pression of bile — and covered with mucus, or when passed out in 

 a slimy state, both of which two last-mentioned conditions show 

 irritation of the bowels. In such cases, the employment of aloes 

 is generally inadmissible, owing to its stimulating action on the 

 liver. 



Epsom salts may be given two or three times a day in doses of 

 4 oz. in the food, or 8 oz. in 1^ pint of water as a drench. 



Eserine, 



which is one of the alkaloids of calabar bean, acts as a purgative 

 by stimulating the muscular coat of the stomach and intestines. 

 It also causes contraction of the pupil, whether applied locally, or 

 when taken into the system by the mouth. It is of great benefit 

 in oases of flatulent colic and colic caused by indigestion ; but it 

 is dangerous in cases of constipation, owing to its rapid and violent 

 action. It is generally used in the form of the sulphate ; the 

 doses being, 2 to 3 grains by the mouth, \ grain intratracheally 

 (p. 647) and 1 to \\ grain subcutaneously (p. 644). In intestinal 

 obstruction, more prompt and certain effects are obtained by the 

 addition of 2 or 3 grains of pilocarpine. This combined medicine 

 will generally purge the horse in about half an hour. An Australian 

 practitioner, who has treated over 500 cases by the intratracheal 

 injection of eserinC', has devised the following solution after much 

 careful research : — 



Sulphate of eserine 20 grains. 



Hydrochlorate of pilocarpine 60 „ 



Pure carbolic acid ... ... ... 10 drops. 



Distilled water 5 ounces. 



Each drachm of this solution contains \ grain of eserine and \\ 

 grains of pilocarpine. The doses recommended for intrartracheal 

 injection are : Heavy draught-horse, 3 drachms ; carriage-horse, 



