GENEBAL ACTION OP IRON AND ITS SALTS 201 



solution, in the strength of 2 drachms to the pint of water, 

 is employed as an enema to destroy ascarides. The objec- 

 tion to these solutions of iron is that they form heavy, nasty, 

 tenacious clots, when employed to arrest hEemorrhage, and 

 the clots are apt to decompose and favor sepsis. Therefore 

 they should not be used if other means, as ligature, pres- 

 sure, heat or cold, or adrenalin chloride can be utilized. 



Internal. — Reduced iron is one of the best preparations 

 for dogs. It is commonly administered in pill, and often 

 with other tonics, as strychnine, quinine, and arsenic. 

 Reduced iron is non-irritating, non-astringent, and non- 

 constipating. It may be placed on the tongue in the form 

 of powder. 



Ferrous sulphate is one of the two most valuable forms 

 of iron which can be prescribed to the larger animals. The 

 other form is the tincture of ferric chloride. The sulphate 

 is more astringent and irritating than some of the other ironx 

 salts, but does not usually cause constipation in the horse. 

 Indeed, when constipation is due to loss of tone in the lower- 

 bowel, small doses, by their local stimulant action, may 

 actually assist peristalsis. The dried ferrous su'phate is- 

 prescribed to horses in anaemia, and is the most commom 

 constituent of tonic powders. It is frequently combined 

 with powdered gentian, nux vomica, arsenic, and bicarbonate 

 of sodium. Sodium bicarbonate is useful in indigestion and 

 lessens the astringent action of sulphate of iron in neutral- 

 izing the acid set free from the salt. Nux vomica relieves 

 constipation. A common and useful preparation for the 

 horse is as follows : 



Sodii bicarbonatis. 



Pulv. nucis vomicsB aa 3 ii. 



Ferri siilphatis exsico 3 i. 



M. et £. pulv. 1. Dispense pulv. tales no. xxx. 

 S. Give one powder on the feed three times daily. 



Ferrous sulphate is given in anaemia secondary to chronie 



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