Part 30

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. Its effects may be prolonged and the danger of its use lessened by dissolving the cocaine in a 1 to 1000 adrenalin chloride solution.

CRETA PRAEPARATA--PREPARED CHALK

DERIVATION.--Native calcium carbonate, freed from most of its impurities by elutriation.

PROPERTIES.--A white, amorphous powder, often molded into conical drops; odorless and tasteless; permanent in the air. Almost insoluble in water; insoluble in alcohol.

DOSE.--Horses, 1 to 2 oz.; cattle, 2 to 4 oz.; sheep and pigs, 2 to 4 dr.; dogs, 10 gr. to 1 dr.

PREPARATIONS

PULVIS CRETAE COMPOSITUS--COMPOUND CHALK POWDER

Composed of chalk, 30 parts; acacia, 20 parts; sugar, 50 parts.

DOSE.--Dogs, 10 gr. to 1 dr.; cats, 1 to 5 gr.

MISTURA CRETAE--CHALK MIXTURE

Composed of compound chalk powder, 20 parts; cinnamon water, 40 parts; water to make 100.

DOSE.--Dogs, 1 to 2 oz.; cats, 1 to 2 dr.

ACTIONS.--Internally, chalk is the slowest acting antacid, because of its comparative insolubility and is of value when it can exert its long-continued influence throughout the digestive tract. It resembles bismuth in mechanically coating or protecting inflamed or irritable surfaces. It is not so astringent nor antiseptic as the bismuth salts, and these are generally preferable to chalk for the smaller animals. It is excreted unchanged in the feces. Externally it is a dessicant and slightly astringent powder, also protective.

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.

Chalk may be given to dogs in pills or powder; to other animals in powder, capsules or electuary. Chalk is frequently prescribed suspended in flour, gruel, milk or mucilage to the larger animals. The chalk preparations are suitable for dogs and cats.

CUPRI SULPHAS--COPPER SULPHATE--BLUE VITRIOL--BLUE STONE

DERIVATION.--Boil metallic copper and sulphuric acid together. Dissolve product in hot water and crystallize.

PROPERTIES.--Large, transparent, deep blue, triclinic crystals; odorless, of a nauseous, metallic taste; slowly efflorescent in dry air; soluble in water; almost insoluble in alcohol.

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, 1 to 2 dr.; sheep and pigs, 20 to 40 gr.; dogs, 1 to 2 gr.

As a tonic and astringent, repeat two or three times daily; given either in capsule or in some mucilagenous solution, or in powder form, with some inert substance; when given as a tonic should be given at time of feeding, or right after eating.

ACTIONS.--Gastro-intestinal irritant, astringent, tonic, emetic in large doses; acts directly on the stomach; antiseptic and vermifuge.

USES.--Internally used as emetic, antidote for phosphorus, atony of the bowels, diarrhoea, especially combined with dilute sulphuric acid opium; is supposed to prevent the development of farcy and glanders in exposed animals. Used externally as a caustic and stimulant; styptic, also used for foot-rot; for granular eyelids, touch lightly over the granular surface with the sulphate of copper.

DIGITALIS--FOXGLOVE

The dried leaves of Digitalis purpurea Linne (Fam. Scrophulariaceae), collected from plants of the second year’s growth, at the commencement of flowering.

HABITAT.--Foxglove grows wild in the temperate parts of Europe, where it flowers in the middle of summer. In this country it is cultivated for ornamental and for medical use.

PROPERTIES.--Foxglove is without odor in the recent state, but acquires a faint narcotic odor when dried. The color of the dried leaf is a dull pale green, modified by the whitish down upon the under surface; that of the powder is a fine deep green.

CONSTITUENTS.--Digitalein, Digitonin, Digitalin and Digitoxin, the latter is most poisonous and active. Said to be cumulative.

DOSE.--Digitalis leaves, horses, 15 gr. to 1 dr.; cattle, 30 gr to 1¹⁄₂ dr.; sheep and pigs, 5 to 15 gr.; dogs, ¹⁄₂ to 3 gr.