* ON EMETIN. 
323 
dicine by direct contact with the mucous membrane ; arguing; that 
any thing capable of producing pustular eruption by its applica- 
tion to the external surface of the body, might reasonably be 
supposed to highly irritate a mucous membrane when brought in 
contact with its organized villi. On this account, partly, 1 deem 
it desirable that tartarized antimony should be given in solution. 
Independent of its action being more rapid when given in this 
manner, its powers as a direct local irritant are diminished by its 
being diluted in a large quantity of fluid. When given in the 
form of a ball, it passes from the stomach through the intestines 
in its most concentrated form, and, during its solution in that 
viscus, is likely, by its presence and irritating qualities, to impair 
the functions of that organ. 
Thinking it desirable to have some agent that would not pro- 
duce those irritating effects to such an extent on the intestinal 
mucous membrane, but at the same time possessed the nauseat- 
ing, sedative, and expectorant properties of tartar-emetic, I di- 
rected my attention towards emetin, the active agent of that 
invaluable expectorant and emetic for the human subject— ipeca- 
cuanha; and I found it capable of producing greater sedative and 
nauseating effects on the horse than tartarized antimony, without 
being accompanied by the dangerous intestinal irritation which 
too often attends the continued exhibition of the latter medicine. 
Its laxative effects on the digestive system were in many instances 
most decided, but never so great as to produce severe purgation. 
I have already had sufficient experience of the superior value 
of emetin over aloes and tartarized antimony as a medicinal agent 
possessing the combined properties of a sedative, nauseant, and 
expectorant, to amply justify me in its recommendation to the 
veterinary profession, as a medicine eminently calculated to form 
an adjunct to blood-letting and counter-irritation in the treatment 
of those cases of pulmonary disease in which the exhibition of 
nauseants is indicated ; also, as a superior remedy to tartarized 
antimony for the reduction of inflammation in almost all the dis- 
eases for which that medicine is usually prescribed. 
The principal objection to tartarized antimony is, as I have 
before stated, its tendency, from continued exhibition, to produce 
inflammation of the intestines — an effect which seldom results 
from the use of emetin ; although, if an over-dose of this substance 
be administered, evident symptoms of intestinal derangement 
accompany the violent inflammation of the lungs and bronchi, 
which latter, if the case prove fatal, is the immediate cause of 
death. 
There are more advantages attending the use of emetin in pre- 
