THE 
VETERINARIAN. 
- ■■ 
VOL. XXXIV. 
No. 400. 
APRIL, 1861. 
Fourth Series. 
No. 76. 
Communications and Cases. 
ON THERAPEUTICS. 
By Professor Brown, M.R.C.V.S., 
Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. 
i (Continued from jp. 134.) 
Counter-irritants. 
All agents which produce external irritation, of whatever 
extent, are termed “ counter-irritants,” although, by correct 
interpretation, the word should be applied only to those 
which cause “high,” or “extreme” irritation. Counter- 
irritants are numerous — hot water, ammoniacal liniments, 
blisters, mustard cataplasms, caustics, setons, and the hot iron. 
Hot water and stimulating liniments occasion irritation and 
redness, and so are defined as “ rubefacients.” Cantharides 
cause effusion of serum under the cuticle, elevating it in the 
form of small vesicles, and hence are described as vesicants. 
Potassio tartrate of antimony and setons cause suppuration. 
Caustics and the cautery occasion, primarily, decomposition of 
the part to which they are applied, but subsequently inflam¬ 
mation and its products. 
Counter-irritants act as derivatives, by virtue of their pecu¬ 
liar power of producing a certain impression upon the nerves, 
apparently by simple contact; an active local circulation is 
the immediate consequence, without any interference with 
the general functions, save where much pain is produced, in 
which case the local excitement extends over the system. 
As therapeutics, counter-irritants are indicated in a variety of 
xxxiv. 14 
