George Franklyn Korinek

“ Actions.—Ether is anodyne, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, anthelmintic; a cardiac, respiratory and cerebral stimulant, an anesthetic and a narcotic poison; one of the best and quickest acting, diffusible, general stimulants, acting on the heart reflexly from the stomach. It is a powerful secretory stimulant, acting especially on the secretions of the stomach, salivary glands and pancreas. On the cerebrum and the motor and sensory nerves, its actions are similar to that of alcohol, but more prompt and less protracted; it is eliminated quickly, chiefly by the lungs. ”

“ Uses.—Boric acid is indicated for all purposes for which an antiseptic is used; it is used in diarrhoea in foals, calves and dogs, combined with other drugs; it has a slightly astringent action of itself; it is excreted in the urine, consequently would exert its influence on the bladder in cystitis, cystic catarrh; 1 part in 800 prevents the development of anthrax-bacilli; useful in skin diseases, also used in keratitis and catarrhal and purulent conjunctivitis, six to ten grains to the ounce, with atropine or cocaine when very painful. ”

“ It causes the hair of an animal to become slick and glossy and induces shedding in the spring, but is very heating in summer. Linseed gruel is a food, being palatable and easily digested, for horses, cattle and sheep, not only good in health, but in debilitating diseases, also in chronic skin diseases. It acts in such cases both as food and medicine. In febrile diseases horses will often sip or drink cold linseed tea (linseed meal two ounces to one pint of water) when they will not touch anything else. When a patient is exhausted the linseed tea is given with milk, eggs and whisky. ”

“ Stimulating the spinals and respiratory systems, it is valuable in the treatment of influenza, pneumonia, pleurisy and similar complaints. The fumes of ammonia are occasionally used to arouse animals from shocks, collapse, or chloroform intoxication, but must be used cautiously, lest excessive irritation of the respiratory mucous membrane be produced. It is a promptly acting antidote in poisoning by opium, aconite, digitalis, and ether narcotic and sedative drugs. ”

“ If distant parts are to be affected in the most prompt and efficient manner and the medicine is free from distinct irritating qualities, it should be taken on an empty stomach; as when digestion is going on, the contents of the stomach are acid in reaction and if alkalies are given combinations take place and salts are formed. If alkalies are given before digestion begins, diffusion of the acid-forming constituents of the blood takes place, and in this way the acidity of the gastric juice is promoted ”

“ In using cocaine as a diagnostic agent for lameness, the fact must not be lost sight of that it is a cerebral stimulant and that if a large quantity is injected it may cause such a degree of excitement as to make the patient forget his lameness, thus leading the operator to believe that the improvement is due to anaesthesia below the point of injection, when the apparent remission from the lameness is of physical origin. Cocaine is advantageously used in painful eye affections. ”

“ Iron is not a foreign substance to the organism. It is constantly present in the blood, gastric juice, lymph, bile, pigment of the eye and traces of it in the milk and [94] urine. In man there is 1 part of iron to 230 red blood corpuscles, and in cattle 1 to 194 red globules. That it performs a very important part is shown in the rapid construction of red globules when iron is administered in anaemia. ”

“ When ingested, ammonium chloride is a feeble heart and respiratory stimulant, and is not comparable to the ammonia compounds or ammonium carbonate in this respect. It is eliminated in great part unchanged by the urine, but also by the other channels. In its excretion it stimulates the mucous membranes, increases their secretion generally, and is thought to improve their nutrition. Ammonium chloride both excites the secretion of the bronchial mucous membrane and renders it less viscid in inflammatory conditions. Externally it is a refrigerant. ”

“ Actions.—Silver nitrate combines with the albumen of the tissues, and is a limited caustic; causes superficial inflammation and stains the parts black; small doses increase secretion and stimulate the heart. It promotes nutrition, and is said to be a nerve tonic. Its continued administration causes waste, gastro-intestinal catarrh, fluidity of the blood, slate colored lines about the gums, and similar discoloration of the skin and mucous membrane, followed by nervous disorder, paralysis, convulsions and death. ”

“ Aloes should not be used in irritation or inflammation of the alimentary canal or piles. It is not advisable to give an aloetic purge when the temperature is above 102° F. Nor in hemorrhage from the rectum; in high fevers it is apt to cause superpurgation, also should not be used where there is great debility or weakness. In influenza the bowels are apt to be irritable and oil is preferable to aloes. Don’t use during pregnancy; may cause abortion. For young foals or other animals, the gentler purgative, such as linseed or castor oil should be used. ”

“ A cooling and stimulating lotion for sprains and bruises may be made by dissolving two ounces of common salt, nitrate of potash and chloride of ammonia in a quart of water.
Use pure cooking salt in normal salt solution, which contains six of one per cent (about fifty grains to a pint) , or may be made at once by adding a heaping teaspoonful of pure salt into a quart of sterilized water at a temperature of 100° to 110° F. In cases of azoturia give plenty of salt; it acts as a diuretic, makes the horse thirsty and causes him to drink water freely and flushes the kidneys. ”

“ On account of its being a stomachic, small doses promote the appetite and digestion. Large doses inflame the stomach and derange digestion. It increases the cardiac action, respiratory power, and secretion of the intestines. It also stimulates peristalsis. When tolerance is established, large doses are taken with impunity.
Externally.—Arsenic is a very painful escharotic, exciting violent inflammation. It is a caustic, antiseptic, and parasiticide, and is frequently used as a sheep dip. It is eliminated chiefly by the kidneys, skin and saliva and milk of nursing animals. ”

“ Properties.—An amber-colored liquid having a distinctive odor and taste, and a slightly acid reaction. Its specific gravity should not be more than 0.945, nor less than 0.924, corresponding, approximately, to an alcoholic strength of 37 to 47.5 per cent, by weight, or 44 to 55 per cent, by volume. Contains no more than traces of fusel oil. The alcoholic liquors owe their flavor to bouquet to ethers which are only developed in course of time. The amylic alcohol, or fusel oil, in whisky is therefore converted into ethers, which give the characteristic flavor to whisky. ”

“ In large doses the soluble preparations of iron give rise to nausea and vomiting, some of them possessing more or less toxic activity. The iodide chloride and sulphate are the most active. Large doses will produce gangrene of the stomach and intestines. Certain salts of iron, as the sulphates, nitrates and chlorides, possess a high degree of astringency, hence they produce constipation when taken internally. When brought into contact with blood they coagulate it, forming a tough brownish magma, and as the albuminous elements of the tissues are also solidified they are powerful haemostatics. ”

“ Actions.—Sodium chloride in small doses is a condiment, restorative, tonic, stomachic, antiferment, alterative, laxative, anthelmintic antiseptic emetic for dogs and used as an injection for pin worms.
Animals deprived of salt do not thrive as it is an essential constituent of food necessary to the composition of HCl in the gastric juice, and of blood plasma, from which it is constantly eliminated in the urine. As an emetic for dogs one to four drams of salt, and one dram of powdered mustard dissolved in four ounces of tepid water. Common salt as an eye-wash is a tonic to the eyes ”

“ Properties.—White translucent masses, of a tough consistence and a crystalline structure, readily pulverizable in the presence of a little alcohol ether or chloroform; having a penetrating characteristic odor, and a pungent aromatic taste. Very sparingly soluble in water, but readily soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform, carbon disulphide, petroleum, benzine and in fixed and volatile oils. On exposure to the air, it evaporates more or less rapidly at ordinary temperatures, and when moderately heated, it sublimes without leaving a residue. ”

“ In atonic indigestion it is particularly useful amongst young animals, and in such cases is often conjoined with ginger and sodium bicarbonate. In relaxed and irritable states of the bowels and where intestinal worms are suspected, after administration of a laxative, gentian and dilute hydrochloric acid are of service. For horses suffering from simple catarrh few combinations are more effectual than an ounce of powdered gentian, two drachms potassium nitrate with two ounces of magnesium sulphate, dissolved in a pint of linseed tea, repeated morning and night. ”

“ A solution of the same strength is injected to overcome acidity of the uterus in leucorrhoea, etc. Calculus made up of ammonium, magnesium and phosphates occur in the bladder and urethra of highly fed rams and wethers. For this use potassium bicarbonate one-half to one drachm, well diluted, conjoined with laxative diet and belladonna to dilate urethra; it is less certain as a diuretic than the acetate or nitrate of potassium. ”

“ Where more general tonic effects are sought, iron sulphate is alternated with the gentian and salines. Gentian proves an excellent stomachic and stimulating tonic in influenza and other epizootics, helps convalescence from exhausting disorders and is a useful restorative for horses, overworked or suffering from loss of appetite or slight cold. The powdered gentian should be added to aloes when given in full cathartic doses to horses. ”

“ Action.—Cocaine in small doses is a cerebral, cardiac, respiratory and nervous stimulant and dieuretic; overdoses cause delirium with cardiac and respiratory failure. Cocaine is a powerful local anaesthetic; used for all animals in 4 to 10 per cent solution, usually a 4 to 6 per cent solution is strong enough for ordinary operations. Inject under the skin, into the muscular tissue or over nerve trunks for minor operations. Applied to such structures as the eye, penis, tongue and other delicate mucous surfaces as the uterus, vagina, rectum, etc. ”

“ The weak alcohol resulting is subjected to repeated distillation until sufficiently pure and concentrated. In the natural fermentation of fruit sugar in grape juice, during the formation of wine, the amount of alcohol is self-limited to 15, rarely 20 per cent, since the ferment is killed by a larger amount of alcohol than this.
Derivation.—The official alcohol is derived from rectified spirits, by maceration, first with anhydrous potassium carbonate, then freshly fused calcium chloride, and finally by distillation. ”

“ Actions.—Magnesium sulphate is a hydragogue and cholagogue cathartic; alterative and febrifuge and is also feebly diuretic and diaphoretic. As a cathartic it resembles common and glauber salts, and is more active than potassium bitartrate or sodium phosphate. When magnesium sulphate is administered it causes outpouring of secretion from the walls of the small intestines, most quickly and abundantly when the bowels have been partially emptied by several hours’ fasting. Neither pancreatic fluid nor bile is materially increased. But magnesium sulphate has a low diffusing power. ”

“ Actions.—A cardiac and vascular tonic and stimulant, a motor excitant, paralyzant, anaphrodisiac, it is an indirect diuretic and an emetic, irritates the mucous membrane.
The heart is slowed but the force is increased; digitalis stimulates the cardiac motor ganglia, the inhibitory apparatus and the vaso-motor centers, contracting the arterioles and thereby greatly raising the arterial tension; large doses exhaust and paralyze the heart. ”

“ Uses.—Chalk forms a dusting powder for moist eczema, slight burns and intertrigo; zinc oxide and starch (one to four) is, however, a better preparation. Chalk is the most useful antacid for diarrhoea accompanied by fermentation of the intestinal contents, while its local astringent and protecting influence assists in overcoming the trouble. It is especially good for foals and calves given in flour gruel and often conjoined with catechu, ginger and opium. ”