200 INOEGANIC AGENTS 



Ulood and whicli will free its iron ion must be employed — 

 as the tartrate of iron and sodium. Large doses thus given 

 cause vomiting, purging, eonvulsioi^s, dyspncEa and failure of 

 respiration. Albumin and casts may appear in the urine. 

 In other words, gastrointestinal and renal irritation suc- 

 ceeded by stimulation and final depression of the central 

 nervous system. 



The numerous compounds of iron now manufactured by 

 pharmaceutical concerns under the name of albuminates 

 and peptonates, and supposed to imitate the natural organic 

 forms of iron found in the blood and liver, are not superior 

 to the inorganic salts in many cases and are worthless in 

 others. Some — as ferratin and carniferrin — are more readily 

 absorbed and less irritating than many of the inorganic prep- 

 arations and might be of some value in canine practice. 



Blood. — In anaamia iron is mainly of worth by fur- 

 nishing building material for blood. It may also stimulate 

 the blood-making organs and in this way perhaps increases 

 the number of red corpuscles. The leucocytes are also some- 

 what augmented. Iron increases the power of the red cor- 

 puscles to hold and carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues, 

 and to transform it into ozone. Iron is then indirectly an 

 oxidizing agent, stimulating tissue change and vital activity. 



Elimination. — Iron is chiefly excreted by the intestinal 

 mucous membrane^ however administered, yet it is also found 

 in minute amounts in the urine, bile, saliva, sweat and tears. 



Summm-y. — Iron is essentially a blood tonic and restor- 

 ative, increasing the number of red blood corpuscles, the 

 amount of haemoglobin, and aiding nutrition. Externally it 

 is an astringent, styptic and stimulant. 



Uses External. — Liquor ferri chloridi and liquor ferri 

 Eubsulphatis are frequently used to stop bleeding from 

 wounds or natural cavities of the body. They may be 

 injected, applied by swab, or on absorbent material, 

 which is packed into the wound or cavity. As a local 

 application in pharyngitis, we use 1 part of the solu- 

 tion of ferric chloride with 4 parts of glycerin. In 

 the same strength, diluted with water, the chloride may 

 be injected into the uterus to stop hemorrhage. Again, a 



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