EXTRACTS FROM FOREIGN JOURNALS. 
509 
can have the desired effect; in fact, farmers in general will not 
take these measures, but where it can be done it should never 
be omitted. 
Notwithstanding the disadvantages existing in our practice, the 
main problem, as far as circumstances are favorable, consists in 
removing the existing diarrhoea. If the desired effect be not at¬ 
tained, the fault is not so much in the remedy used as in the 
doses given. Thus we will find that in the human being, next to 
tannin, opium as opium purum, or tinct. opii. simpl., which is 
given almost exclusively with the best results, is also used in vet¬ 
erinary medicine. But how ? In doses which, in my opinion, 
are much too small. 
For instance, if pulv. rad. rhei 4, 0, magnes. carbonic, 1, 0, 
opii pur. 0, 3, with 100 gm. chamomile tea or 50 gm. brandy, is 
given at once, and then not again until after a lapse of twelve 
hours, or if 250 gm. althea decoct., tinct. opii simpl. 7, 5, is pre¬ 
scribed, of which mixture 2-4 tablespoonfuls every two hours is 
given, no trustworthy effect can be expected. We need not be 
so timid about giving the promptly acting opium ; our sucking 
calves and colts can bear heavier doses. For a long time I have 
given not less than 4 gm. tinct. opii simpl. at a dose, with a little 
spts. rectificaliss., or brandy, which was repeated every three 
to four hours until the diarrhoea was allayed. 
When visiting such cases professionally, it can seldom be as¬ 
certained whether the prescribed medicine has been given prop¬ 
erly, or how often it had to be given before a result was noticed. 
The owner of the animal merely replies: “ The medicine acted 
like a charm.” Here, in the stud, however, I can minutely ob¬ 
serve how matters stand in the individual case, and have found 
that we can give a young colt, be it a day old or older, a great 
deal of opium, without fear. 
Regardless of my former experiences, that opium given in 
larger doses is a very reliable remedy against diarrhoea in the 
newly born, I take the liberty of citing the following cases as 
proof of my assertions : 
(1.) A five-day-old, quite strong colt, was suddenly attacked 
with diarrhoea. Tinct. opii simpl., 5 gm., with a little spts. rec- 
