Simple Farm Medicines. 127 



gatives act upon the bowels and auxiliary organs, and in 

 that action purge the entire system of injurious material. 

 They cause increased action of the bowels by stimulating 

 the bowel movement (peristalsis), cause an outpouring 

 of fluid from the bowel walls, or they may hinder the 

 absorption of fluids, as a consequence the feces (dung) 

 is more watery than usual, or if a stoppage has occurred, 

 it is overcome. The milder purgatives are often termed 

 laxatives, of which the following are commonly used: 

 bran mashes, green food, sulphur, molasses, small doses 

 of raw linseed oil, epsom or glauber salts. The purga- 

 tives in general use for farm stock are aloes; salts (sulfate 

 of magnesia) and raw linseed oil. 



4. Anodynes comprise the pain relieving class, relax 

 spasm, and quiet nervous excitement; such are warmth 

 in the form of poultices and fomentations, cold applied 

 by means of ice or very cold water, sweet spirits of nitre, 

 laudanum, aconite. This class of drugs requires more 

 care in the use of its members than probably any of the 

 others previously mentioned. 



5. Anthelmintics are a very useful class, as by their 

 use the stockman is enabled to rid his flocks and herds 

 of internal parasites, generally termed worms. Anthel- 

 mintics may be said to kill and expel worms, examples 

 are iron sulfate (copperas), copper sulfate (bluestone), 

 common salt, pumpkin seeds, gasoline, benzine, kerosene 

 (coal oil), creolin, santonine, turpentine and aloes. 



6. Vesicants. The members of this family of drugs 

 are suited for external use only, as they are very irri- 

 tant and will raise blisters, hence their name, from the 

 Latin, vesica, a blister; Spanish fly (cantharides), binio- 



