Part 33

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, 1 to 2 oz.; sheep and pigs, 20 to 30 m.; dogs, 5 to 30 m.

LIQUOR FERRI SUBSULPHATIS--SOLUTION OF FERRIC SUBSULPHATE--MONSEL’S SOLUTION

A solution of sulphate of iron, sulphuric and nitric acids.

PROPERTIES.--A dark reddish-brown liquid, odorless or nearly so; of an acid, strongly styptic taste; miscible in water and alcohol.

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, 2 to 4 dr.; sheep and pigs, 10 to 20 m.; dogs, 2 to 10 m. This is used almost entirely for external use as an astringent and styptic.

There are 36 official preparations of iron and a number of unofficial preparations, quite a few of which are impracticable for use in veterinary medicine, consequently we have considered only those which are practicable for use. Some are more irritating than others and some have special actions due to other drugs combined with the iron.

GENERAL ACTION OF IRON AND ITS SALTS

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 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. Without it haematin is not formed and red globules diminish in number. By its medicinal use we furnish to the blood a material which it needs. The action of iron is not limited merely to the construction of red blood. It also promotes the appetite and invigorates the digestion when there is no intolerance to its presence in the stomach. By increasing the disposition for food and the ability to dispose of it, iron acts as a stomachic, consequently when given in the healthy state or when administered for too long a period during disease the gastric glands become exhausted by over-stimulation; then it is said that iron disagrees. Being a restorative its use is contra-indicated in a condition of plethora (fullness of the blood vessels). 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. Iron is eliminated chiefly by the intestinal route, partly by the liver into the bile, thence into the intestines, some by the kidneys also. The tincture of the chloride being especially diuretic.

Iron is a haematinic, stomachic, styptic, astringent or haemostatic. The tincture chloride in addition is diuretic. The sulphate is in addition vermicide. The iodide is alterative and resolvent as well as tonic. A medicine used in combination with iron may modify or enhance its action. Externally iron salts contract tissue by coagulating albumen when applied to raw surfaces or mucous membranes, and through this means by compressing the blood vessels from without and plugging them from within with clotted blood, arrest hemorrhage. The astringent salts may also induce some contraction of the vessels besides. Iron in the form of liquor ferri chloridi or liquor ferri subsulphatis is the most powerful of the metallic hemostatic agents we possess.

USES INTERNALLY.--The saccharated carbonate is staple, non-irritating to the stomach, and especially suited to dogs. It has the same uses as the sulphate. It is also used for the other animals when the stomach is weak.

Sulphate of iron is used locally as an astringent and internally as a haematinic and tonic in anaemia. It improves the appetite and abates exhausting discharges, as in nasal gleet and leucorrhoea. In atonic torpidity of bowels it is prescribed with aloes; also in the same way for intestinal worms. Conjoined with iodine it is the best prescription for diabetes insipidus. It is also prescribed with good results in the first stages of liver rot in sheep. Chorea and epilepsy when with anaemia are benefited by iron. Combined iron and arsenic for chorea. Septicaemia, pyaemia and all forms of blood poisoning, as purpura, haemorrhagica, scarlatina, etc., with quinine. The tincture chloride is prescribed in blood poisoning. In red water of cattle, after bowels are freely opened. In convalescence from debilitating diseases it is a valuable tonic combined with other medicines as nux vomica, quinine, etc. Such diseases as influenza, chest diseases and chronic catarrh should be followed with iron and other tonics.

Iodide of iron is used when an alterative as well as a tonic action is desired. It is given to promote the absorption of glandular enlargements in young and weakly animals, and in swelling of the joints. It is useful in polyuria or diabetes insipidus, also nasal gleet.

Tincture chloride of iron acts as a haematinic, tonic, antiseptic, astringent, styptic, diuretic and local irritant or caustic. It is serviceable in most cases in which the sulphate is recommended. It is used in atonic dyspepsia and for the removal of intestinal worms, in relaxed and sore throat.

Tincture Chloride of iron is also used in anaemia combined with arsenic or quinine, and in blood poisoning combined with quinine. It also promotes absorption of inflammatory material when associated with debility and anaemia. It is the most serviceable preparation of iron for influenza, purpura and scarlatina, as it has a tonic effect on both the blood and arterioles. In these cases it is prescribed with turpentine, quinine and oil. It is used in rheumatism in weakly patients alternated with salol, salicylic acid or salicylate of soda. Also used as an astringent and stimulant for the genito-urinary mucous membrane. The tincture being excreted by the kidneys, is preferred to watery solution. It is particularly suited for distemper and rheumatic lameness in weakly dogs.

USES.--Externally: Liquor ferri chloridi and liquor ferri subsulphatis are sometimes used to stop bleeding from wounds or natural cavities of the body. They may be injected, applied by swab, or on absorbent material, which is packed into the wound or cavity. As a local application in pharyngitis, we use one part of the solution of ferric chloride with four parts of glycerine. In the same strength, diluted with water, the chloride may be injected into the uterus to stop hemorrhage. Again, a solution in the strength of two drachms to the pint of water, is employed as an enema to destroy ascarides. The objection to these solutions of iron is that they form heavy, nasty, tenacious clots when employed to arrest hemorrhage, and the clots are apt to decompose and favor sepsis. Therefore they should not be used if other means, as ligature, pressure, heat or cold can be utilized. Iron is regarded as a specific for erysipelas. It is given both internally and externally.

ADMINISTRATION OF IRON.--The fluid preparations should be freely diluted; the solid preparations should be combined with protectives or inert remedies, either in powder or capsule form, or with stomachics as gentian root. Iron causes less gastric irritation and enters the blood more readily if given with or immediately after meals. In anaemia it should be given in increased doses. Overcome constipation by giving when necessary or combining iron with laxatives as linseed oil.

GAMBIR--CATECHU

An extract prepared from the leaves and twigs of Ourouparia Gambir (Hunter), Ballon (Fam. Rubiaceae). U. S. “An extract of the leaves and young shoots of the Uncaria Gambir, Roxb.”

HABITAT.--Africa and Southern Asia.

DESCRIPTION.--Irregular masses or cubes; reddish-brown, pale brownish-gray or light brown; fracture dull-earthy; friable, crystalline; inodorous, bitterish, very astringent, with a sweetish after-taste; free from starch. Not less than 70 per cent should be soluble in alcohol.

CONSTITUENTS.--Catechutannic acid (about 45 per cent) is the active principle; it is converted into the isomeric inactive catchnic acid, or catchin, by the saliva and by boiling, a red color being developed. There is also pyrocatechin or catechol.

INCOMPATIBLES.--Alkalies, metallic salts and gelatine.

DOSE.--Horses, ¹⁄₂ to 1 oz.; cattle, 1 to 2 oz.; sheep and pigs, 1 to 2 dr.; dogs, 5 to 30 gr.

PREPARATIONS

TINCTURA GAMBIR COMPOSITA--COMPOUND TINCTURE OF GAMBIR

Composed of gambir, 50; cinnamon, 25; alcohol to make 1000.

DOSE.--Horses, ¹⁄₂ to 2 oz.; cattle, 1 to 3 oz.; sheep and pigs, ¹⁄₂ to 1 oz.; calves and foals, ¹⁄₂ to 1 oz.; lambs, 10 to 30 m.; dogs, ¹⁄₂ to 1 dr. The above doses can be considerably increased and are good in cases of diarrhoea of small and young animals.

ACTION AND USES.--Gambir is administered to all classes of domestic animals for the arrest of chronic catarrhal discharges and haemorrhage, especially from the alimentary canal. The insoluble catechnic acid beneficially exerts its astringency on the relaxed, over-secreting surfaces alike of small and large intestines. In chronic diarrhoea and in dysentery it is combined with aromatics to allay flatulence; with opium to relieve irritability and spasm; with alkalies, magnesia, or chalk to counteract acidity.