332 Veterinary Medicine. 



Next come the questions of alkaline and diuretic treatment. 

 Some cases do well if given nitrate of potash freely in the drink- 

 ing water. Some prefer the alkaline diuretics, such as acetate of 

 potash or ammonia, bicarbonate of potash or soda, biborate of 

 soda, or the vegetable diuretics such as colchicum, squills, etc. 

 Fraenkel found that, while comparatively ineffective alone, these 

 proved most efficient (in man) when combined with cinchona or 

 other bitter. The hint should be useful to the veterinarian. Di- 

 uretics in the stage of effusion should be pushed as far as the 

 strength of the patient will warrant. 



Friedberger and Frbhner recommend pilocarpin, and no agent 

 produces an equal secretion from the natural emunctories and an 

 equal tendency to reabsorption. It is, however, so profoundly 

 exhausting that it must be used with the greatest judgment and 

 caution. 



Digitalis has often an excellent effect. Though not primarily 

 a diuretic, it is a powerful tonic of the heart and circulation, and 

 by increasing the blood tension it usually produces a free flow 

 of urine. In combination with the diuretic salts it may be used 

 from the first but it is especially valuable, after effusion and when 

 attention must be given mainly to securing reabsorption. Care 

 is demanded that we avoid its cumulative action, and in place of 

 continuous large doses, a strong infusion applied over the loins will 

 sometimes have a good effect. It may also be combined with 

 bitters and even with ferruginous tonics in the advanced stages. 



In combination with neutral salts and digitalis, iodide of potas- 

 sium would seem to be indicated. Results, however, do not show 

 a great superiority to other diuretics in favoring absorption. 



Tincture of iodine, painted upon the chest over the affected 

 parts, and repeated until tender, acts more or less as both a de- 

 rivative and deobstruent. A liniment of iodide of potassium and 

 soap is a convenient form of application. 



The inunction of the chest walls with mercurial ointment has 

 strong advocates both among physicians and veterinarians, and 

 is combined in such cases with the exhibition of calomel in- 

 ternally. Unless the good effects are shown in a day or two it 

 may well be abandoned. 



When effusion becomes dangerous through excess, and in ad- 

 vanced cases when it fails to yield to medicinal measures thora- 

 centesis is called for. (See under hydrothorax. ) 



