Part 43

In Thumps administer full doses of morphine subcutaneously.

In inflammation of the eyes morphine sulphate is very efficient combined with zinc sulphate and distilled water.

TOXIC DOSES.--Produce cold clammy sweat, very slow heart, diminished quantity of urine, abolished reflexes, coma, the pupil minutely contracted (except in the horse) but dilated as the end approaches and death by suspension of respiration, due to direct action of the poison on the respiratory centers in the medulla.

In case of poisoning. Emetics, stomach pump, permanganate of potassium, grain for grain of morphine, or 10 to 15 grains dissolved in 8 ounces of water, given by the mouth for large dogs, and 1 to 2 drachms of permanganate of potassium in 2 or 3 pints of water for horses. Artificial respiration, striking the body, keep patient moving, empty bladder to prevent absorption.

APOMORPHINE HYDROCHLORIDUM--APOMORPHINE HYDROCHLORIDE

DERIVATION.--The hydrochloride of an artificial alkaloid, obtained by heating morphine or codeine in hermetically closed tubes with an excess of pure hydrochloric acid.

PROPERTIES.--Minute, grayish-white, shining monoclinic prisms, without odor, having a faintly bitter taste and acquiring a greenish tint upon exposure to light and air. It should be kept in small, dark, amber-colored vials. Soluble in water, alcohol, ether and chloroform.

DOSE.--As an emetic for dogs, ¹⁄₈ to ¹⁄₅ gr., by the mouth, and ¹⁄₂₀ to ¹⁄₁₀ gr., subcutaneously.

DOSE.--As an expectorant, subcutaneously, horses, ³⁄₄ gr.; foals, ¹⁄₂ gr.; cattle, 1¹⁄₂ gr.; sheep and calves, ¹⁄₂ gr.; dogs, ¹⁄₁₀ to ¹⁄₅ gr. By the mouth, dogs, ¹⁄₄₀ to ¹⁄₂₅ gr. as an expectorant.

ACTION AND USES.--It is a prompt and effectual emetic in animals that vomit, acting on the vomiting centers. When ¹⁄₅ gr. dissolved in water is swallowed by either man or dog repeated vomiting occurs, but is not followed by so much nausea as usually follows the use of tartar emetic. Increases bronchial, intestinal and pancreatic secretions. Chronic dry bronchitis of dogs is benefited by apomorphine. In pica cattle, 1¹⁄₂ gr. may be given on three consecutive days, or in recent cases, 3 gr. are given subcutaneously in the same way. It relieves choking in animals by its relaxing spasm and increasing secretion of the gullet. Three-quarters of a grain may be injected under the skin in horses. It should be tried before using a probang, as, if successful, it will act within fifteen or twenty minutes. The alkaloid decomposes in crystal and rapidly in solution, becoming toxic and of a green hue. Solutions should be freshly prepared.

PETROLATUM LIQUIDUM--LIQUID PETROLATUM

DERIVATION.--A mixture of hydrocarbons, chiefly of the marshgas series, obtained by distilling off the lighter and more volatile portions from petroleum and purifying the residue when it has the desired consistence.

PROPERTIES.--A colorless, or more or less yellowish, oily transparent liquid without odor or taste; or giving off, when heated, a faint odor of petroleum. Insoluble in water; scarcely soluble in cold or hot alcohol, or cold absolute alcohol; but soluble in ether, chloroform, carbon disulphide, oil of turpentine, benzine, benzol and fixed and volatile oils.

PETROLATUM--VASELINE--COSMOLINE

DERIVATION.--A mixture of hydrocarbons, chiefly of the marshgas series, obtained by distilling off the lighter and more volatile portions from petroleum and purifying the residue when it has reached the desired melting point.

PROPERTIES.--A fat-like mass of about the consistence of an ointment varying in color from yellowish to light amber, having not more than a slight fluorescence, even after being melted; transparent in thin layers, completely amorphous and without odor or taste, or giving off when heated a faint odor of petroleum. In other respects soft petrolatum has the solubility of liquid petrolatum.

PETROLATUM ALBUM--WHITE PETROLATUM

DERIVATION.--A mixture of hydrocarbons, chiefly of the methane series, obtained by distilling off the lighter and more volatile portions from petroleum and purifying the residue.

PROPERTIES.--A white, unctuous mass, of about the consistency of an ointment, transparent in thin layers, completely amorphous; without odor or taste. Otherwise it resembles, in solubility, petrolatum.

ACTION.--All preparations of petrolatum are valuable emollients. They soothe, protect and soften parts to which they are applied and are superior to animal or vegetable fats or oils in not becoming rancid.

USES.--Petrolatum may be used alone, or as an excipient in the preparation of ointments, but does not aid the absorption of drugs (as do alcohol, glycerine, chloroform, animal oils and fats), for it is not itself absorbed even when administered internally. Petrolatum exerts a demulcent action upon the mucous membrane of the alimentary tract, and may be prescribed in electuary or capsule in inflammation thereof. Liquid petrolatum is useful given internally in piles (dogs one-half ounce twice daily) to soften the feces. It is also very serviceable with menthol and camphor (equal parts, fifteen grains to one ounce) dropped in the nostrils (with a medicine dropper) for dogs with acute nasal catarrh. Petrolatum is sold universally under the proprietary names of vaseline and cosmoline, and is often combined with antiseptics for medical and surgical purposes in skin diseases and upon inflamed mucous membranes, blisters and abraded surfaces and sores. It is one of the most useful agents in lubricating instruments, protecting metal from rust, and is sometimes employed as a vehicle for electuaries. It should not be used as a base for blisters or other ointments where absorption is desired.

PIX LIQUIDA--TAR

An empyreumatic oleo-resin obtained by the destructive distillation of the wood of various species of pines, especially that of Pinus palustris.

HABITAT.--United States.

PROPERTIES.--Thick, viscid, semi-fluid, blackish-brown; heavier than water, transparent, in thin layers, becoming granular and opaque with age; odor empyreumatic terebinthinated; taste sharp empyreumatic. Tar is slightly soluble in water; soluble in alcohol, fixed or volatile oils and solutions of potassium or sodium hydrate.

CONSTITUENTS.--Oil of turpentine; methylic alcohol; creosote; guaiacol; phenol; pyrocatechin; toluol; xylol; acetic acid; acetone; resins.

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, ¹⁄₂ to 1 oz.; sheep and pigs, 1 to 2 dr.; dogs, ¹⁄₄ to 1 dr. Oil of tar should be diluted with alcohol, glycerine, syrup or mucilage.

PREPARATIONS