ACTIOK OF ANTIMONY AND POTASSIUM TAETEATE 231 



general depressant and depletant treatment was in vogue, 

 because of its powerfully depressing action upon the circu- 

 lation. 



Respiratory Organs. — Small doses of antimony increase 

 secretion of bronchial mucus. Toxic amounts weaken the 

 respiratory movement by lowering the functional activity of 

 the respiratory and vagus centres, and cause a copious 

 outpouring of serous and mucous secretion into the 

 bronchial tubes, which has the effect of drowning an 

 animal in his own secretions. This action is only seen 

 in horses after intravenous injection of toxic quantities of 

 tartar emetic. The respiration is slow and labored in poison- 

 ing. 



Nervous System. — Large doses of antimony depress the 

 functional activity of the brain and sensory tract of the 

 spinal cord. Larger doses produce loss of reflex action and 

 anjesthesia, owing to the influence of antimony upon the 

 sensory side of the cord; while in toxic amounts, antimony 

 is a general paralyzant to all the spinal centres and to the 

 motor nerves. 



Muscles. — In carnivora and man, antimony lessens 

 muscular strength and relaxes spasm through its depressing 

 action upon the motor nerves and' muscular tissue. 



Elimination. — Antimony is mainly eliminated by the 

 mucous membrane of the stomach and bowels, but also by 

 the kidneys, bronchial mucous membrane, and other channels. 



Toxicology. — The symptoms are those described under 

 " Action on the Stomach and Bowels." The fffical discharges 

 in man are copious and of the rice water appearance char- 

 acteristic of Asiatic cholera. If vomiting is not free, zinc 

 sulphate should be given, or the stomach washed out. Tannic 

 acid should be administered as a chemical antidote, together 

 with the use of external heat, alcohol, strychnine and mor- 

 phine subcutaneously, and demulcents by the mouth. 



Uses External. — Tartar emetic, is used in ointment, in 

 the strength of 1-4, over chronically enlarged and rheumatic 

 joints of cattle. It is also employed over the sides of the 



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