120 COLICS AND THEIR TREATMENT 



Ol. Lini q. s. ad. § xij 



M. 



Sig. Give at one dose (repeat in an hour if neces- 

 sary). 



The acetanilid is used on account of its being a non- 

 constipating anodyne. One that will not retard the ac- 

 tion of eserine or arecoline, and has a beneficial in- 

 fluence in congestive conditions of the bowels. 



Tincture of ginger is preferable to tincture of capsi- 

 cum because the latter is constipating. 



Spirits of nitrous ether may be used in place of the 

 ether if desired. 



The Quick-Acting Cathartics 



Under the caption of general considerations it may 

 not be amiss to discuss the comparative value of the three 

 quick-acting cathartics, namely — barium chloride, arecol- 

 ine hydrobromide and physostigmine (or eserine) sul- 

 phate. 



Barium chloride, the least desirable and most dan- 

 gerous of this class, belongs to the category of "kill or 

 cure" drugs, and while once enjoying a wave of great 

 popularity, it is now rapidly passing into a well-deserved 

 oblivion, with perhaps a faint occasional flutter of life. 



It is administered in 71/2 to 10-grain doses, intraven- 

 ously (never subcutaneously as it does not act as a ca- 

 thartic, and will cause sloughing). Dissolve this 

 quantity in two to four drams of water and filter the 

 solution. Barium chloride was formerly used in this 

 way in 15-grain doses, but this is excessive. If used, 

 I would advise that the ten-grain dose for jugular 

 vein injection be not exceeded. 



