USES OF THE ISTITEITES 313 



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_ In asthenic and febrile diseases, as influenza, sweet 

 spirit of nitre is of worth, combined with tonic doses of 

 quinine and alcoholic stimulants. 



The nitrites are the most successful remedies in reliev- 

 ing dyspnoea, when due to spasm of the bronchial tubes, or 

 congestion of the lungs. They relax the bronchioles and 

 avert congestion by vascular dilatation and equalization of 

 the circulation. Thus the dyspnoea occurring in pneumonia, 

 acute pulmonary oedema, asthma and chronic bronchitis, are 

 advantageously treated by half-hourly or hourly doses of 

 nitroglycerin. Amyl nitrite, in dilating peripheral vessels 

 and blanching the lungs, has proved the most successful 

 remedy in hemoptysis. 



Cardiac Diseases. — These are comparatively rare in the 

 lower animals; but, in general, it may be said that no 

 remedy is more useful for its transient action in the severe 

 dyspnoea of cardiac diseases than nitroglycerin. The passing 

 engorgement of the right heart and lungs is relieved by 

 nitroglycerin, which tends to distribute the blood about 

 the body in its proper channels, and thus takes the load off 

 the heart temporarily. 



Nervous Diseases. — E"itrite of amyl is invaluable in 

 warding off epileptic seizures in man, when warning of their 

 approach is given the patient. As this warning cannot be 

 detected in the lower animals, the nitrites are of less value, 

 but may be combined with the bromides as prophylactic 

 agents. The nitrates exert their favorable effect in this 

 condition by preventing cerebral vasomotor spasm, which 

 is thought to occur in epilepsy. Amyl nitrite is useful in 

 relieving hiccough or " thumps " in horses. 



Diseases of Urinary Organs. — Spirit of nitrous ether is 

 useful as a diuretic in carnivora, when the urine is concen- 

 trated and irritating to the bladder. It is also a valuable 

 remedy, for the same reason, in acute cystitis of all animals, 

 when it may be combined to advantage with potassium 

 citrate, or acetate and tincture of aconite. 



Summary. — We may summarize the therapeutical indi- 

 cations for the nitrites as follows: 



1. To dilate peripheral arterioles and equalize the cir- 

 culation in internal congestions. 



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