MODE OF ADMINISTRATION 9 



IS undoubtedly danger, however, in giving irritant drugs by 

 this method, especially chloral, and several cases of foreign- 

 body pneumonia have come under our notice as the result 

 of this mode of administration. It is the best method of 

 benumbing or killing the parasites {S.filaria and micrurus) 

 infesting the trachea and bronchi, and has been employed 

 to influence the mucous membrane of the larynx ?ind trachea 

 in certain inflammatory conditions. 



5. Drugs are usually given by the mouth and are absorbed 

 from the stomach and intestines. Many non-irritating and 

 not unpleasant drugs are taken voluntarily in the food, 

 gruel, milk or drinking water by animals. Cats and dogs 

 will often swallow medicine enclosed in a piece of meat. 

 Absorption is more tardy than by the subcutaneous method, 

 more rapid when given in solution into an empty stomach ; 

 slower when administered in powder, pill or ball, and on a 

 full stomach. Some drugs are probably absorbed from the 

 stomach, only to be destroyed or stored in the liver (alka- 

 loids and ht»avy metals), and do not enter the general 

 circulation at all. 



When drugs are administered for their local action 

 on the stomach, in catarrh or ulcer, they should be given 

 half hour to an hour before feeding; if given for their action 

 in or on the intestines, they should be administered two or 

 three hours after meals. 



6. Rectal injections of medicines (enemata or clysters) are 

 practised when the use of drugs by the mouth is inadvis- 

 able or impossible, as in uncooscioiisness, dysphagia, con- 

 vulsions ; also to destroy parasites (oxyurides) in the rectum, 

 to inflaence an inflamed or ulcerated rectal mucous mem- 

 brane, and to remove intestinal contents (oil and glycerin). 



The dose of drugs by this method is generally twice 

 that by the mouth, and absorption is slower and more im- 

 perfect. The drug should be non-irritating, soluble, and not 

 too bulky, since a small amount is necessary (3 i.- § i. dogs ; 

 5 ii.-3 viii. horses); to avoid tenesmus and expulsion. Warm 

 starch solution (made by boiling) or linseed tea with a little 

 laudanum is a good vehicle for medicinal enemata, and re- 



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