116 
REVIEW OF MOIROUD’S 
large animals), their effect is confined to the digestive organs; 
but in doses of three ounces, they extend their influence to 
almost all the functions, and particularly to the urinary. They 
are therefore given in dropsy, serous infiltrations, and the rot in 
sheep. They are also useful in many epizootic maladies of cattle. 
They are infused in water or wine, or the powder of them made 
into a mass with honey or treacle. To increase or modify their 
effect they are frequently mixed with gentian, carbonate of iron, 
nitre, and chloride of soda. An extract is prepared which con¬ 
tains all its virtues, and is the base of many tonic and stimu¬ 
lating electuaries. 
Elder. —The flowers are employed in the form of infusion, 
for resolvent and detersive lotions, and particularly for inflam¬ 
mation of the eyes. They are combined with acetate of lead, 
muriate of ammonia, &e. The leaves are used as resolvents 
and aperients in anasarca, swelled legs, farcy, and the rot. 
Guaiacum has on animals a very uncertain effect as a diapho¬ 
retic. It must be given in doses of at least four ounces, for 
large animals, and repeated three times in twenty-four hours. 
It is oftenest employed as an auxiliary to other medicines, as 
sulphur, some salphurets, sassafras, and sarsaparilla. The dose 
must then be materially diminished. 
Sassafras is far preferable to the guaiacum, and has a deter¬ 
mined action on the skin, and increases the insensible perspira¬ 
tion. It is rasped, infused in water or wine, and given in doses 
of four ounces. 
Sarsaparilla. —The immediate action of sarsaparilla is even 
weaker than that of the two last drugs, and, as its price is 
greater, it is seldom used. 
Alcohol ranks among the most energetic of the diffusible 
stimulants. When it is concentrated, it is an irritant, and even a 
rubefacient, whether externally or internally applied. When it 
is introduced into the digestive tube in a large dose, it spreads 
itself through the circulating- current, associates itself with the 
blood, impregnates in some manner all the tissues, strongly ex¬ 
cites all the organs, and especially the brain, and sadly dis¬ 
orders the general system. While these phenomena are exhi¬ 
bited, the alcohol is endeavouring to escape by pulmonary 
exhalation, as the breath expired will sufficiently attest. 
Carried into the stomach, its action is more energetic than 
when it is introduced into the cellular tissue. Its effects are 
more prompt when it is injected into the peritoneal cavity, or 
into the jugulars. In the latter case, it produces death, by 
coagulating the blood. 
Its strength being diminished, it increases the internal heat, and 
