138 INOEGANIC AGENTS 



useful in promoting the activity of the skin and kidneys, 

 and for this purpose may be given with spirit of nitrous 

 ether, to which diluted sulphuric acid and the compound 

 tincture may be added to improve appetite and digestion. 

 Glauber's salts are useful in aiding the action of peristaltic 

 agents, as aloes. Small doses are given to horses in their 

 drinking water while the aloes is acting. 



■ Sodium sulphate is of benefit in the treatment of diar- 

 rhoea, dysentery and overloaded and impacted colon of horses 

 when given in frequent and repeated doses in connection 

 with linseed' oil. 



An enema, consisting of one pound of Glauber's salts in 

 a quart of water, to which two ounces of oil of turpentine 

 and four ounces of glycerine may with advantage be added, 

 should be injected high into the bowel to secure rapid pur- 

 gation in horses suffering with colic. 



Glauber's and Epsom 'salts are the most common pur- 

 gatives given to ruminants. It is therefore impossible to 

 enumerate special indications for their employment in the 

 case of these animals. To assist the action, one teaspoonful 

 each of ginger and molasses are given with each ounce of 

 Glauber's or Epsom salts, and often an equal weight of 

 sodium chloride. When a speedy action is desired, Glau- 

 ber's salts should be administered with a large amount of 

 water and thirst should be encouraged by the addition 

 of common salt. When, on the other hand, it is essential to 

 remove fluid and morbid effusions from the body, the 

 purgative salt should be exhibited in concentration and the 

 patient should be deprived of water to a considerable ex- 

 tent. Glauber's and Epsom salts are not used so commonly 

 in canine practice as calomel and castor oil, but find more 

 favor with German than English-speaking veterinarians. 



Sometimes salts are serviceable in irritable states of 

 the bowels in dogs (piles, duodenitis and intestinal catarrh) 

 in teaspoonful doses ; and when given every second day, as 

 a laxative, in eczema. Vomiting, howeyer, not uncommonly 

 follows the ingestion of salts by dogs. 



Carlsbad salts form a good cathartic for cage birds. 

 About 3 grains are added to an ounce of their drinking water 

 in the case of small birds. 



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