PREVENTION, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT x g 



Special diet, however, sometimes brings on anemia and dropsy 

 (hydremia), as in the case of cattle and horses fed on sugar-beet 

 pulp. 



The two remedies of most value in anemia are iron and arsenic. 

 The former stimulates hemoglobin formation and indirectly the 

 building of red corpuscles, while arsenic appears to promote more 

 especially the formation of red corpuscles. To large patients, tinc- 

 ture of ferric chloride (H. & C, § i— ii ) may be given on the food or 

 placed undiluted on the tongue three times daily and improves 

 digestion and stimulates activity of the kidneys by its contained 

 nitrous ether and alcohol. Ferrous sulphate is a good form for 

 horses, and one dram is frequently prescribed with two drams each 

 of sodium bicarbonate and powdered nux vomica on the feed thrice 

 daily. The sodium bicarbonate lessens the astringency of the iron 

 salt. 



Saccharated ferrous carbonate may be given to animals, if 

 the other iron salts are not taken voluntarily; or reduced iron, 

 which has little taste (of either H., 3i-ii; C, 3 ii-iv ; sheep and 

 swine, gr. xx-xxx; D., gr. i-v). 



To dogs, pills of ferrous carbonate may be administered in the 

 form of Blaud's pills (each gr. v), or tablets containing one or two 

 grains of reduced iron may be given. When there is indigestion 

 and flatulence it is advisable to give an aromatic and bitter with 

 iron, as powdered nux vomica, 3 i ; powdered ginger, 3 iv ; reduced 

 iron, 3i; arsenous acid, gr. v — in a single dose (powder), to be 

 given twice daily on the food for a horse. For sheep, 20 grains 

 of ferrous sulphate, or reduced iron, may be given on grain, with a 

 dram each of salt, ginger and gentian. 



Arsenic may often be combined to advantage with iron, as 

 above, in powder, or Fowler's solution may be added to tincture of 

 ferric chloride without incompatibility. In the pernicious form of 

 anemia, arsenic is of much more value than iron and should be 

 given in slowly increasing doses so that as much as 2 ounces of 



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