HYPODERMIC MEDICATION IN EQUINE PRACTICE. 
507 
the heart’s action can be ascertained), to give better results than 
from medicaments inserted into the stomach. 
Even in tetanus the hypodermic injection of remedies such as 
acid carbolicum, pilocarpin, nicotine, morphine and strychnia, 
promises better results, with the least minimum of trouble, than 
all the heroic doses of potassium bromidium, chloral hydrate, or 
any of the nerve sedatives can be expected to accomplish when 
given by the mouth, even when it is possible to do so. 
The list of active principles suitable for hypodermic medica¬ 
tion are very numerous, and at some future time I may compile a 
list of the same, with their doses, mode of preparing solutions, 
etc. But before resorting to this method, I would like to offer a 
suggestion to the veterinarian : In the first place, see that you 
obtain a properly graduated syringe (and that it is absolutely 
correct in its capacity). I have found many syringes to vary 
from 5 to 15 per cent.; the one I use has a capacity of 120 
minims, equal to two fluid drachms. In the next place, be sure 
you obtain the purest alkaloids, and, if possible, use only freshly 
prepared solutions; also, in making the solutions, use no more 
acid to dissolve the alkaloid than is necessary; it is the better 
plan to obtain a soluble salt, such as the sulphate of styriclmine, 
instead of the alkaloid styrichnia, with which to make the solu¬ 
tion, and after each insertion be careful to cleanse your syringe 
and needles, and make them antiseptic by immersion in a solu¬ 
tion of carbolic acid, as cleanliness in this particular is absolutely 
necessary to secure complete success. Judicious care also should 
be exercised in choosing the proper location for inserting the 
jieedle, so that no important artery or vein is wounded. Of 
course it is understood that the cellular tissue should invariably 
be the part of the anatomy in which to place the medicine. I 
would also like to impress upon the operator the necessity of see¬ 
ing that no air is drawn into the syringe between the plunger of 
the syringe and the medicine which it is intended to administer; 
because if these little minutise be overlooked, abscesses are very 
liable to form at the point of juncture, and cause much trouble 
to the careless veterinarian ; but should ordinary precautions only 
be taken, I feel convinced that this method of medication will 
