MEDICINAL TREATMENT OF "COLICS" 121 



Barium chloride is given in from one-half to one dram 

 doses by the mouth. Occasionally the devil-may-care vet- 

 erinarian gives two drams, but here again I wish to ad- 

 vise against the use of more than one dram. For oral use, 

 it should be diluted with one pint to one quart of water, 

 both as a diluent and to prevent its too rapid absorption. 

 Catharsis is induced by it in 15 to 30 minutes. 



When barium chloride acts, it acts beautifully, when it 

 kills, it kills quickly, and it does the latter frequently. 

 It is intensely painful in its effect and can bring in the 

 end only shame and discredit on the user. 



Arecoline hydrobromide has many users and friends 

 in the veterinary profession. It is supplied the prac- 

 titioner in tablet form and is administered hypoder- 

 matically in one, one and one-half, and two-grain 

 doses; dissolved, of course, in sterile water. It acts 

 in about 20 to 30 minutes, causing considerable grip- 

 ing and a greatly increased flow of saliva, sometimes 

 amounting to a gallon or two, which is swallowed by 

 some horses and is allowed to run out of the mouth 

 by others. It usually causes from five to seven evacu- 

 ations and empties the rectum only. It also greatly in- 

 creases the secretion of acid in the stomach, which effect, 

 coupled with the severe pain it causes, makes it a danger- 

 ous drug to use in gastric flatulence. 



I use arecoline hydrobromide occasionally in the 

 less serious types of cases, in which an active cathartic 

 is indicated; but under no conditions do I use it when 

 gastric flatulence is present. 



Physostigmine sulphate (also known as eserine sul- 

 phate), if properly selected and properly used is a 



