Part 35

ACTIONS.--Calomel is a cathartic, laxative, alterative, diuretic and vermifuge. Small doses are laxatives when repeated, large doses are cathartics, full doses irritate the stomach and produce emesis in man and dog. By stimulating the urea functions of the liver diuresis are produced, its action on the liver does not directly increase the secretion of bile, but removes it from the duodenum which reflexly increases its secretion. Repeated doses produce mercurial poisoning. It is an alterative when combined with opium, laxative in small repeated doses and cathartic in larger doses.

USES.--Calomel is useful in gastric and intestinal catarrh, bilious diarrhoea, influenza lymphangitis and liver disorders which show themselves by a yellowness of the visible mucous membranes. It is a useful adjuvant cathartic conjoined with aloes or other cathartics. As a laxative or cathartic for horses give aloes and calomel; cattle and sheep, magnesium and sodium sulphate; for pigs, dogs and cats with jalap. Pure calomel is a specific for thrush. It is also useful in the treatment of moist skin and raw sores, mixed in equal parts with bismuth subnitrate it quickly dries the flesh and prevents itching.

DOSES.--As a laxative vermifuge and alterative horses and cattle take 20 to 40 grs.; sheep and pigs, 5 to 20 grs.; dogs and cats, ¹⁄₁₆ to 1 gr., given two or three times a day with equal weight of opium which prevents griping and a too rapid removal by the bowels. As a cathartic, calomel is best conjoined with other medicines regulated by that of the medicine with which it is conjoined. A full cathartic for horses should consist of calomel 1 to 1¹⁄₂ drs. with aloes 4 to 6 drs.; cattle, 1¹⁄₂ to 2 drs. with magnesium sulphate or sodium sulphate 1 to 1¹⁄₂ pounds; sheep, 5 to 30 grs. with magnesium sulphate 4 to 8 ounces; pigs, 5 to 30 grs. with sodium bicarbonate ¹⁄₂ to 1 ounce; dogs and cats ¹⁄₈ to 10 grs. with jalap 10 to 30 grains.

HYDRARGYRI IODIDUM RUBRUM--RED IODIDE OF MERCURY--BINIODIDE OF MERCURY

ORIGIN.--Red iodide of mercury is obtained by dissolving in water separately bichloride of mercury and potassium iodide, and pour both solutions slowly and stirring actively.

PROPERTIES.--A scarlet-red, amorphous powder; odorless and tasteless; permanent in air, insoluble in water; soluble in one hundred and twenty-five parts of alcohol.

ACTIONS.--Red iodide of mercury is a stimulant irritant, resolvent pustulant antiseptic and parasiticide.

USES.--Mixed with one to eight parts of lard it is a blister used to reduce bony enlargements or bone-tumors as in splints, bone spavin, ringbone, sidebone and actinomycosis; it is also used with good results in reducing soft swellings, to arrest chronic inflammation and promote absorption of inflammatory deposits, as seen in sprained tendons, curbs, enlarged joints, bursae, etc. It is frequently used as a counter-irritant in sore throat, chronic cough and roaring. Mixed with cantharides the strength can be reduced as an irritant and less apt to permanently destroy the hair bulbs. It is used internally to arrest the growths of actinomycoses and scirrhous cord, but in those cases the benefits are derived from the potassium iodide which it contains, and I would recommend administering internally without the mercury.

HYDRARGYRI OXIDUM FLAVUM--YELLOW MERCURIC OXIDE

ORIGIN.--Yellow mercuric oxide is obtained by the interaction of mercuric chloride and sodium hydroxide.

PROPERTIES.--Mercuric oxide is of a yellow color, similar to that of the yolk of egg, and is a completely amorphous powder; odorless, and having a somewhat metallic taste; permanent in the air, but turning dark on exposure to light; insoluble in water or alcohol.

ACTIONS.--A stimulant caustic and anesthetic.

USES.--The official ointment of yellow mercuric oxide is prescribed as a stimulant and anesthetic in chronic inflammation and ulceration of the eye (4 gr. of yellow mercuric oxide to 1 oz. of vaseline). It is also employed on skin diseases, indolent ulcers, swollen glands and granulated wounds.

HYDRASTIS--GOLDEN SEAL

The rhizome and roots of hydrastis canadensis Linne, yielding not less than 2.5 per cent of hydrastine.

HABITAT.--North America in woods west to Missouri and Arkansas.

PROPERTIES.--Externally brownish-gray to yellow-brown; fracture short, wood wedges bright yellow, pith large, light yellow, the roots thin, brittle, with a thick yellow bark and a somewhat quadrangular wood; odor distinct; taste bitter.

CONSTITUENTS.--Berberine, an alkaloid occurring in yellow crystals; hydrastine, a colorless crystalline alkaloid, soluble in alcohol and ether; canadine occurring in white, acicular crystals.

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

PREPARATIONS

FLUIDEXTRACTUM HYDRASTIS--FLUIDEXTRACT OF HYDRASTIS

Made by maceration and percolation with alcohol, glycerin and water and evaporation.

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, 3 drs. to 1 oz.; sheep and pigs, 1 to 2 drs.; dogs, 5 gr. to 1 dr.

TINCTURA HYDRASTIS--TINCTURE OF HYDRASTIS

Made by maceration and percolation of hydrastis, with diluted alcohol.

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, 1 to 2 oz.; sheep and pigs, 2 to 4 drs.; dogs, ¹⁄₂ to 2 drs.

GLYCERITUM HYDRASTIS--GLYCERITE OF HYDRASTIS

Made by maceration and percolation of hydrastis, 1000 parts add water to the percolate and evaporate. Add water to the residue, set aside 24 hours and filter; add enough water to the filtrate to make 500 parts; then add glycerin 500.