134 GENERAL THERAPEUTICS FOR VETERINARIANS 



The carbohydrates serve in the first place as heat-producing 

 material for the body (exercise). Increased ingestion of carbo- 

 hydrates decreases the decomposition of albumin and fat. They 

 are consequently an important dietetic material in the treatment 

 of chronic disturbances of nutrition accompanied by emaciation 

 (with the exception of obesity and diabetes mellitus, in which the 

 carbohydrates should be withheld as completely as possible). 



A stimulating influence upon metabolism is exerted by mus- 

 cular activity and exercise (increased oxidation of carbohydrates 

 and fats, not the albumins), cutaneous irritation, salts (sodium 

 chloride, sodium bicarbonate, sodium sulphate), alcohol, and 

 arsenic and phosphorus in small doses. See also therapeutics of 

 the glands. 



In the general therapeutics of the diseases of metabolism, the 

 remedies are usually divided into plastics, antiplastics (removal of 

 fat) and nutrients. 



1. PLASTIC REMEDIES. PLASTICS 



Synonyms: Nutrients, euplastics, antatrophics, antidepertitorics; foods, 

 blood plastics, bone plastics. 



Definition and Classification. — Plastics are substances which 

 participate directly or indirectly in the construction and building 

 up of the animal body. They can be subdivided into blood 

 plastics (see p. 63), bone plastics, muscle plastics, etc., correspond- 

 ing to the individual organs. They can also be classified as foods 

 and medicinal plastics. 



(a) The foods (dietetic remedies in the restricted sense) are 

 naturally the most important plastics. In therapeutics, less con- 

 sideration is given to the food as such than to an effort to supply 

 the usual food in the most readily digestible form (sick diet). 

 Horses affected with certain diseases, for instance, are given oats 

 which have been ground or crushed, or are fed steamed oats; car- 

 nivora are given meat finely ground; young animals are fed eggs, 

 leguminous meals containing dextrin (children's flour); muci- 

 laginous gruels, roasted meal, etc., are fed in intestinal catarrh. 

 See the text-books on dietetics. 



