METHODS^ OP ADMINISTEEIlfrG MEDICINES. 31 



embedded in the great mass of food in the stomach and act tardily if 

 at all. 



(2) Medicines are administered to the lungs and upper air passages 

 by insufflation, inhalation, injection, and nasal douche. 



Insuflation consists of blowing an impalpable powder directly into 

 the nose. It is but rarely resorted to. 



Gaseous and volatile medicines are given by inhalation, as is also 

 medicated steam, or vapor. Of the gases used there may be men- 

 tioned, as the chief ones, sulphurous acid gas and, occasionally, chlo- 

 rine. The animal or animals are to be placed in a tight room, where 

 these gases are generated until the atmosphere is sufficiently impreg- 

 nated with them. Volatile medicines — as the anesthetics (ether, chlo- 

 roform, etc.) — are to be given by the attending surgeon only. Medi- 

 cated vapors are to be inhaled by placing a bucket containing hot 

 water, vinegar and water, scalded hay or bran, to which carbolic acid, 

 iodine, creolin, compound tincture of benzoin,' or other medicines 

 have been added, in the bottom of a long grain bag. The horse's nose 

 is to be inserted into the top of the bag, and he thus inhales the 

 " medicated steam." Care must be taken not to have this hot enough 

 to scald the animal. The vapor from scalding bran or hay is often 

 thus inhaled to favor discharges in sore throat or " distemper." 



Injections are made into the trachea by means of a hypodermic 

 syringe. This method of medication is used for the purpose of treat- 

 ing local diseases of the trachea and upper bronchial tubes. It has 

 also been used as a mode of administering remedies for their constitu- 

 tional effect, but is now rarely used for this purpose. 



The nasal douche is employed by the veterinarian in treating some 

 local diseases of the nasal chambers. Special appliances and profes- 

 sional knowledge are necessary when using liquid medicines by this 

 method. It is not often resorted to, even by veterinary surgeons, 

 since, as a rule, the horse objects very strongly to this mode of medi- 

 cation. 



(3) Br THE SKIN. — ^Medicines are often administered to our hair- 

 covered animals by the skin, yet care must be taken in applying some 

 medicines — as tobacco water, carbolic-acid solutions, strong creolin 

 solutions, mercurial ointment, etc. — over the entire body, as poison- 

 ing and death follow in some instances from absorption through the 

 skin. For the same reasons care must also be exercised and poisonous 

 medicines not applied over very large raw or abraded surfaces. With 

 domestic animals medicines are only to be applied by the skin to allay 

 local pain or cure local disease. 



(4) Bt the tissue beneath the skin (hypodekmatic method). — 

 Medicines are frequently given by the hypodermic syringe under the 

 skin. It is not safe for any but medical or veterinary practitioners 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



