270 INOEGANIC AGENTS 



lute solutions. Acids are immediately converted into salts — 

 as acid can not exist as such in the tissues or blood. In the 

 ease of herbivora the fixed alkalies of the tissues and blood 

 thus neutralize acid as it is absorbed. When the alkalies of 

 the blood and tissues are consumed the animal dies. Her- 

 bivora are very susceptible to acid poisoning, as in them the 

 lessened alkalinity of the blood renders it unable to carry 

 carbonic acid from the tissues to the lungs. 



When the tissues become flooded with carbonic dioxide, 

 dyspnea, heart "weakness, depression of the vasomotor centre, 

 and death by failure of the respiration ensue. 



Carnivora are more resistant to acid poisoning because 

 they possess a protective power whereby they are able to 

 liberate free ammonia from their tissues and thus neutralize 

 absorbed acid and save — to a considerable extent — the fixed 

 alkalies in their blood and tissues. 



Acid is absorbed from the digestive tract as acid salts 

 and in this form eliminated by the kidneys, which may lead 

 to renal irritation and the presence of albumin and blood in 

 the urine. 



The urine of herbivora therefore becomes strongly acid 

 and contains large quantities of the salts of the alkalies ; that 

 of carnivora holds an excess of ammonia and — to a less de- 

 gree — an increase in potassium and sodium salts. 



The organic acids are also absorbed as salts of the 

 alkalies but do not usually reduce the alkalinity of the blood 

 or render the urine acid. 



They are oxidized into carbonates in the tissues and. 

 may even alkalize the urine by their eliminaton as alkaline 

 carbonates. The vegetable salt^ are infrequently used in 

 veterinary medicine. The effect of the mineral acids on the 

 body is due almost wholly to their hydrogen ion, to which 

 they owe their activity. 



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