196 
W. L. ZUILL. 
a free bleeding, the indication then is to put the patient on an 
antipyretic treatment. There are agents—drugs if they may be 
so called (?) which combat fever by what is called a contra-stim¬ 
ulant action, but which I think can be better described as de¬ 
nutritive antipyretics, or antithermics, decrease the over active 
combustion of the body; they have been divided into two classes, 
those which lessen combustion by primary action upon the blood 
itself preventing molecular interchange, and those acting 
through the nervous system, and reducing fever by a second¬ 
ary phenomena, which restores the tone of the capillary ves¬ 
sels, and consequently facilitates circulation in certain organs, 
thereby preventing stagnation and congestion. 
“As a general rule, such antipyretics as are obtained from 
the mineral kingdom, may be classed as ‘denutritive,’ acting by 
their presence in the blood, and retarding molecular inter¬ 
change between the blood globules and the tissue structures.’ 
Salts of mercury, arsenic and iodine act in this way in arresting 
molecular interchange, and are especially denutritive. Iodine 
and its compounds act especially upon tlie mucous tissues and 
the lymphatic ganglions; when given to an animal in full doses 
it will be seen that the temperature drops below normal circu¬ 
lation and respiration are diminished in force and frequency; 
the pulse becomes slow, and the visible mucous membranes 
blanched, and if the drug is pushed beyond this point anaemia 
soon follows. 
Alkaline salts act in the same way. Bicarbonate of soda in 
small doses seems to increase the appetite, but in large doses it 
reduces temperature, bleaches the mucous membrane, and pro¬ 
duces emaciation. 
In typhoid fever or influenza in the horse, these remedies 
may be of some value, if given early. In giving iodide of po¬ 
tassium and bicarbonate of soda, even before there is localization 
fever—the result of too active molecular interchange—is coun¬ 
teracted, and the temperature, already reduced by the bleeding, 
*Trasbot. 
