Part 7

Quinine and urea hydrochloride has recently come into use as local anaesthetic. One per cent solutions make a satisfactory substitute for cocaine, etc. It also has advantages over cocaine. It is non-toxic, it may be exposed to a boiling temperature and its anaesthetic effect for dogs after an operation, therefore aiding in dressing of wounds. Its anaesthetic effect comes on within five minutes to half an hour after being injected into the intended seat of operation.

Speaking from practical experience, I prefer quinine and urea hydrochloride to cocaine or any of its allies.

DOSE.--Of the powdered cinchona bark: Horses, 2 dr. to 1 oz.; cattle, 1 to 2 oz.; sheep and pigs, 1 to 4 dr.; dogs, 10 gr. to 1 dr.

ALKALOIDAL SALTS OF CINCHONA--QUININAE SULPHAS--SULPHATE OF QUININE

DOSE.--As a tonic: Horses, 15 gr. to 1 dr.; cattle, ¹⁄₂ to 1¹⁄₂ dr.; sheep and pigs, 5 to 10 gr.; dogs and cats, 1 to 2 gr. As antipyretic Dose: Horses and cattle, 2 to 4 dr.; sheep and pigs, 15 gr to 1 dr.; dogs and cats, 5 to 10 gr.

QUININAE ET UREAE HYDROCHLORIDUM--QUININE AND UREA HYDROCHLORIDE (NON-OFFICIAL)

Soluble in 18 parts of water. Use hypodermically as a local anesthetic.

COCAINAE HYDROCHLORIDUM--COCAINE HYDROCHLORIDE

“The dried leaves of Erythroxylon Coca Lamarck (Fam. Erythroxylaceae), known commercially as Huanuco Coca, or of E. Truxillense Rusby, known commercially as Truxillo Coca, yielding when assayed not less than 0.5 per cent of the ether-soluble alkaloids of coca.” U. S. “The dried leaves of Erythroxylum Coca, Lam., and its varieties.”

HABITAT.--Cultivated in Peru and Bolivia and introduced into medicine by Koller in 1884.

DERIVATION.--Cocaine hydrochloride is recovered by agitating an acidulated alcoholic solution of coca leaves with ether. The etheral liquid is made alkaline with sodium carbonate and evaporated. The residue is purified, deodorized, neutralized with hydrochloric acid and finally crystallized.

PROPERTIES.--A colorless, transparent, monoclinic prism, flaky, lustrous leaflets or a white crystalline powder; permanent in air, containing no water of crystallization; odorless; of a saline, slightly bitter taste, and producing on the tongue a tingling sensation followed by numbness of several minutes’ duration. Soluble in 0.4 part of water, 2.6 parts of alcohol and in 18.5 parts of chloroform at 25° C. (77° F.); soluble in benzine, petroleum benzine and ether. It leaves no residue on incineration. Its aqueous solution is neutral to litmus paper.

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, 5 to 20 gr.; sheep and pigs, 1 to 3 gr.; dogs, ¹⁄₈ to 1 gr. Not much used internally.

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. It causes profound but temporary anaesthesia over a small area; it causes rapid and extreme dilation of the pupil.

Cocaine is injected for minor operations to prevent pain, such as neurectomy, removing tumors, operations on the eyes, tongue, fistulae, firing, etc. For dogs it should be used with great caution, a two per cent solution usually being enough and as little as possible being used.

For the horse, as a rule, not more than two drachms of a five per cent solution should be injected subcutaneously, lest restlessness, excitement, etc., ensue, which though not necessarily dangerous, may interfere with the operation.

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.

ACTIVE PRINCIPLES.--Digitoxin--It occurs in crystals, soluble in alcohol and chloroform, slightly in ether, and insoluble in water; said to be cumulative.

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, ¹⁄₈ to ¹⁄₄ gr.; dogs, ¹⁄₂₅₀ to ¹⁄₅₀ gr.

Digitalein, an amorphous, bitter substance, soluble in water and alcohol and non-cumulative.

DOSE.--Same as digitoxin.

Digitalin, a very bitter, crystalline substance, soluble in alcohol, and slightly soluble in water and ether.

DOSE.--Same as for digitoxin.

Digitonin, resembling or identical with saponin of senega. White, amorphous powder, soluble in water. It is a heart depressant, muscular paralyzant and powerful irritant, besides being antagonistic to digitalis. In addition to these principles there are: Digitin, an inactive substance. Digitalic and antirrhinic acids. Tannin coloring matter, starch, sugar, gum, a volatile oil, salts, etc., common to most vegetables.

PREPARATIONS

EXTRACTUM DIGITALIS--EXTRACT OF DIGITALIS

Made by maceration and percolation with alcohol and water; distillation of alcohol and evaporation to pilular substance.

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, 5 to 10 gr.; sheep and pigs, ¹⁄₂ to 2 gr.; dogs, ¹⁄₈ to 1 gr.

FLUIDEXTRACTUM DIGITALIS--FLUID EXTRACT OF DIGITALIS

Prepared by maceration and percolation with alcohol and water, and evaporating so that 1 c. c. equals 1 gm. of the crude drug.

DOSE.--Horses, 10 m. to 1 dr.; cattle, 30 m. to 1¹⁄₂ dr.; sheep and pigs, 5 to 15 m.; dogs, ¹⁄₂ to 2 m.

TINCTURA DIGITALIS--TINCTURE OF DIGITALIS

Composed of powdered digitalis 100 parts with sufficient alcohol and water to make 1000 parts. By maceration and percolation.

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, 2 to 4 dr.; sheep and pigs, ¹⁄₂ to 1 dr.; dogs, 5 to 20 m.

INFUSUM DIGITALIS--INFUSION OF DIGITALIS

Composed of digitalis 15 parts, alcohol 100 parts, cinnamon water 150 parts, boiling water 500 parts, cold water to make 1000 parts. By maceration.

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

There are several substitutes for digitalis found in commerce.

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.

Its diuretic action is very complex, one of the active principles, digitalin, increases the arterial pressure by contracting the blood vessels of the body, while the large renal arteries are dilated by two of its active principles, digitoxin and digitalein. On this account digitalis is an ideal diuretic.

USES.--It is used as a cardiac stimulant in full doses, followed by small ones; used in heart and cardiac debility from any cause, irregularity of the heart due to debility; used in dropsical conditions, combined with acetate or nitrate of potash; it is useful in congestion of organs, useful in the first stages of pneumonia and scarlatina; as a diuretic over the region of the kidneys this can be used two or three times daily; when internal remedies fail to increase the action of the kidneys this is very effectual. Useful in palpitation of the heart due to overexertion. Digitalis is occasionally employed with good results as a poultice of the leaves, applied over the loins to promote diuresis, or in local inflammation, to contract blood vessels.

FERRUM REDUCTUM--REDUCED IRON

DERIVATION.--Hydrogen gas is passed over freshly made and carefully washed ferric oxide in a hot and closed tube.

PROPERTIES.--A very fine grayish-black, lustreless powder, without odor or taste; permanent in dry air; insoluble in water or alcohol.

DOSE.--Horses, 1 to 2 dr.; cattle, 2 to 4 dr.; sheep and pigs, 20 to 30 gr.; dogs, 1 to 5 gr.

FERRI SULPHAS--FERROUS SULPHATE--COPPERAS--GREEN VITRIOL

DERIVATION.--Iron wire is dissolved by boiling in dilute sulphuric acid.

PROPERTIES.--Large, pale bluish-green, monoclinic prisms, without odor and having a saline styptic taste; efflorescent in dry air. On exposure to moist air the crystals rapidly absorb oxygen and become coated with brownish-yellow, basic ferric sulphate; soluble in water, insoluble in alcohol.

DOSE.--Same as reduced iron.

FERRI SULPHAS EXSICCATUS--DRIED FERROUS SULPHATE

DERIVATION.--Allow ferrous sulphate, 100 parts, to effloresce at a temperature of 104° F., then heat on a water bath until the product weighs 65.

PROPERTIES.--A greyish-white powder, slowly but completely soluble in water, without odor, and having a saline styptic taste.

DOSE.--Same as reduced iron.

FERRI CARBONAS SACCHARATUS--SACCHARATED FERROUS CARBONATE

DERIVATION.--Ferrous sulphate, 50; sodium bicarbonate, 35; sugar and distilled water. Made by solution, precipitation and washing.

PROPERTIES.--Greenish-brown powder, without odor; sweetish taste; becomes oxidized on exposure to the air.

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

SYRUPUS FERRI IODIDI--SYRUP OF FERROUS IODIDE

Contains five per cent, by weight, of ferrous iodide.

PROPERTIES.--Transparent, pale green liquid; sweet, ferruginous taste.

DOSE.--Horses, ¹⁄₂ to 1 oz.; cattle, 1 to 2 oz.; sheep and pigs, 1 to 2 dr.; dogs, 5 to 30 m. Given when you want the combined action of iron and iodine.

ACTION.--Tonic, alterative, diuretic and emmenagogue.

FERRI CHLORIDUM--FERRIC CHLORIDE

Ferric chloride should contain not less than 22 per cent of metallic iron in the form of chloride.

PROPERTIES.--It is in orange-yellow, crystalline pieces, odorless or having a faint odor of hydrochloric acid and a strong styptic taste; deliquescent; soluble in water and alcohol; not used internally.

Used almost exclusively in the form of tincture or liquor, and in reference to its effect and application I refer you to Tincture Ferri Chloridi and Liquor Ferri Chloridi.

LIQUOR FERRI CHLORIDE--SOLUTION OF FERRI CHLORIDE

DERIVATION.--Dissolve iron wire, 125, in hydrochloric acid, 680, nitric acid and water to make 1000.

PROPERTIES.--A reddish-brown liquid, having a faint odor of hydrochloric acid, an acid, strongly styptic taste.

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, 2 to 4 dr.; sheep and pigs, 10 to 20 m.; dogs, 2 to 10 m. All liquid preparations of iron should be well diluted with water or oil.

TINCTURA FERRI CHLORIDI--TINCTURE OF FERRIC CHLORIDE

Composed of ferric chloride, 350 parts; alcohol to make 1000.

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.