Part 8

PROPERTIES.--Iodine is heavy, bluish-black color, dry and friable, rhombic plates, having a metallic luster, a distinctive odor, and a sharp and acrid taste. Iodine imparts a deep brown, evanescent stain to the skin, and slowly destroys vegetable colors. Soluble in about 5000 parts of water and in 10 parts of alcohol at 77° F., freely soluble in ether, chloroform or carbon disulphide; its solution in alcohol or in an aqueous solution of potassium iodide has a reddish color; its solution in chloroform or carbon disulphide has a violet color.

## ACTIONS.--Iodine internally is an antiseptic, alterative, resolvent and

irritant. Full doses persisted will produce a state of debility and emaciation termed iodism. Externally it is applied as an antiseptic, disinfectant, parasiticide, deodorant, stimulant, desquamatic, absorbent and counter-irritant. Iodine is one of the best antiseptics for surgical purposes. The tincture iodine especially kills all disease producing bacteria in one minute, whereas it takes a one in one thousandth solution of bichloride of mercury more than half an hour to destroy the same micro-organisms. The tincture of iodine also possesses unusual penetrating power on the dry skin, finding its way into the hair follicles and cutaneous glands. Iodine must not be applied to the wetted skin because the wetting causes the skin cells to swell and thus prevent the iodine from penetrating into the sebaceous and sudoriparous glands, the very action upon which the special germicidal action depends.

USES.--Iodine is of most value applied externally, or locally. In sterilizing the skin for an emergency operation the hair should be clipped and shaved dry and the tincture of iodine applied without washing the skin. For other operations the skin may be scrubbed with soap and shaved and dried before applying the tincture. The tincture should always dry on the skin before the operation is begun.

The method used in human surgery for sterilizing the skin, and recommended by leading surgeons, consists in first of cleansing the skin with gasoline to remove the grease and then applying the tincture of iodine in full or half strength.

Tincture of iodine applied is of some value in the treatment of periostitis with osseous deposits, as splints, bone-spavin, ringbone, sidebones, etc. It is used for enlargements of glands as goiter in dog.

LINUM--LINSEED--FLAXSEED

Ground linseed (linseed meal or flaxseed meal) should be recently prepared and free from unpleasant or rancid odor. It is a grayish-yellow powder containing brownish fragments.

## ACTION AND USES.--It is nutrient, tonic, laxative, emollient and

demulcent. Linseed meal and the cake are valuable foodstuffs in small quantities. It is two and one-half times as fattening as starch or sugar. It causes the hair of an animal to become slick and glossy and induces shedding in the spring, but is very heating in summer. Linseed gruel is a food, being palatable and easily digested, for horses, cattle and sheep, not only good in health, but in debilitating diseases, also in chronic skin diseases. It acts in such cases both as food and medicine. In febrile diseases horses will often sip or drink cold linseed tea (linseed meal two ounces to one pint of water) when they will not touch anything else. When a patient is exhausted the linseed tea is given with milk, eggs and whisky. Horses that are poor feeders, having harsh scurvy skins, or being affected with roaring, thick wind or heaves, are usually much benefited with linseed in some form. A mucilaginous demulcent in the proportion of about one to two ounces to a pint of warm water, is useful in irritable conditions of the throat, alimentary canal, kidneys and bladder.

For linseed poultices, take the best grade of linseed meal, pour hot water over it until it becomes pasty. Charcoal and antiseptics are often mixed with it. When used as a poultice on the foot in nail pricks, always put on a poultice that will cover the whole foot.

OLEUM LINI--LINSEED OIL--OIL OF FLAXSEED

A fixed oil expressed from flaxseed without the use of heat.

PROPERTIES.--A yellowish or yellow, oily liquid, having a slight, peculiar odor and bland taste. Soluble in about ten parts of absolute alcohol and in all proportions in ether, chloroform, benzine or oil of turpentine.

Linseed oil for medicine should always be used raw.

DOSE.--Horses, 1 to 2 pints; cattle, 2 to 4 pints; sheep and pigs, 5 to 10 ozs.; dogs, ¹⁄₂ to 3 ozs.; cats, ¹⁄₂ to 1 dr.

## ACTION AND USES.--Linseed oil cannot be used as a diet on account of its

being too laxative; it is laxative in small doses, but in large doses produces copious discharges of faeces, having a distinct linseed oil smell. The oil is also emollient, soothing and softening to inflamed and indurated surfaces. As a laxative it usually produces tolerably full and softened evacuations, without nausea, griping or superpurgation and with decided odor of oil. It is the best physic to administer to pregnant animals and in irritable conditions of the bowels; also in cases of influenza, purpura and other debilitating diseases, where the usual purgatives would be too severe, irritating and exhausting. It is also used as an enema; two to four ounces of the oil or meal given daily in mash often suffices to maintain the bowels in a relaxed condition throughout febrile attacks, where there is a tendency to constipation. An ounce or two of oil given daily often relieves broken wind in horses. For burns and scalds the well known _carron oil_, composed of equal parts of linseed oil and lime water, cannot be surpassed. This oil is also used as a vehicle for acrid medicines and to act as a protective to the alimentary tract in poisoning of corrosive medicines, also to sweep them out. Carron oil in two to four ounce doses two to three times daily will often relieve “heaves” in horses.

Linseed oil is frequently given to ruminants, although Epsom salts is generally the best purge for them. It is indicated for these animals when a milder operation than that obtained by a full dose of salts is required, and for its demulcent action in irritable states of the digestive organs.

MAGNESII SULPHAS--MAGNESIUM SULPHATE--EPSOM SALTS

DERIVATION.--Magnesium sulphate is a constituent of sea water and of some saline springs. It also occurs native, either crystallized in slender, prismatic, adhering crystals, or as an efflorescence on certain rocks and soils which contain magnesia and a sulphate or sulphide. In the United States it is found in the great caves so numerous to the west of the Alleghany Mountains.

PROPERTIES.--Small, colorless, rhombic prisms, or acicular crystals, without color and having a cooling, saline and bitter taste; slowly efflorescent in dry air; .85 part of water; insoluble in alcohol.

## ACTIONS.--Magnesium sulphate is a hydragogue and cholagogue cathartic;

alterative and febrifuge and is also feebly diuretic and diaphoretic. As a cathartic it resembles common and glauber salts, and is more active than potassium bitartrate or sodium phosphate. When magnesium sulphate is administered it causes outpouring of secretion from the walls of the small intestines, most quickly and abundantly when the bowels have been

## partially emptied by several hours’ fasting. Neither pancreatic fluid

nor bile is materially increased. But magnesium sulphate has a low diffusing power. It is slowly absorbed, and moreover, retards diffusion and absorption of fluid present in the bowels. In this twofold action by increased secretion and retarded absorption the fluid contents of the bowels are increased, producing more or less mechanical distension and provoking, like other salines, slight peristalsis. The retarded removal of accumulating liquid is apt to produce the formation of gases in the bowels, which is relieved by conjoining carminatives, as ginger or capsicum, while effectual removal of the intestinal fluids is attained by using with magnesium sulphate aloes, calomel or oil. It acts in from twelve to sixteen hours; in small doses it stimulates the secretions of the kidneys and skin. In febrile diseases it is used in small repeated doses. It is valuable in treating animals suffering from reflex skin irritation, combined with large doses of bicarbonate of sodium, generally gives relief, especially in urticaria of the horse. It is quite commonly used as a cathartic for horses, but most often for cattle and sheep.

DOSES.--When repeated two or three times as a laxative and alterative horses take 2 to 4 ounces, cattle 3 to 6 ounces, sheep and pigs, 1 to 2 drachms. As a cathartic cattle take 1 to 2 pounds, calves two to three months old 3 to 4 ounces, sheep 4 to 6 ounces, dogs 1 to 4 drachms. Aloes is a much better cathartic for horses, and castor or linseed oil acts much better as a cathartic in pigs.

NAPHTHALENUM--NAPHTHALENE

A by-product of gas manufacture.

PROPERTIES.--Colorless, shining rhombic crystals of an aromatic acrid taste, insoluble in water but soluble in alcohol, ether and oils.

DOSE.--Horses, 1 to 3 dr.; cattle, 2 to 4 dr.; sheep and pigs, 5 to 15 gr.; dogs, 1 to 10 gr. These doses can be doubled in severe cases of intestinal flatulence.

## ACTIONS AND USES.--A true intestinal antiseptic and antiferment, is also

expectorant, antiseptic and parasiticide. Used in intestinal flatulence, dissolved in tincture capsicum; in diarrhoea and dysentery, is of great value in these ailments, quickly allays foul odor of the evacuations of the bowels; large doses irritate the kidneys and cause bloody urine which ceases upon withholding the drug. When powdered on a wound as wire cuts, etc., will keep away flies and other insects, besides it is a powerful antiseptic and promotes the healing of wounds. Used as an ointment it is very effective in parasitic skin diseases.

NUX VOMICA--QUAKER BUTTON

The dried ripe seeds of Strychnos nux vomica, yielding when assayed by the process given below, not less than 1.25 per cent of strychnine.

HABITAT.--The tree is a native of the East Indies, growing in Bengal, Malabar, on the Coromandel Coast, in Ceylon, in many islands of the Indian Archipelago, in Cochin-China and in other neighboring countries.

DESCRIPTION.--Orbicular, nearly flat, sometimes irregularly bent, about three-quarters of an inch in diameter and two in thickness; externally grayish or greenish-gray, the surface covered with short closely oppressed, satiny hairs; rounded or somewhat acute at the margin, with a slight ridge extending from the center of one side to the edge; internally whitish-gray, horny, very tough, the endosperm in two more or less regular concavo-convex halves, between which, at one end, lie the heart-shaped, palmately nerved cotyledons; inodorous; taste intensely and persistently bitter.

CONSTITUENTS.--Two alkaloids. 1. Strychnine, 0.2-0.6 per cent. 2. Brucine, 0.5-1.0 per cent. Similar in action to strychnine, but weaker and slower. Both alkaloids exist in combination with igasuric acid. Brucine occurs in rectangular octohedral crystals; it is soluble in alcohol, in 7 parts of chloroform, and possesses a bitter taste. With sulphuric and nitric acids a beautiful blood-red color is developed. There are also: 4. Igasuric acid with which strychnine and brucine are combined. 5. Loganin, an inert glucoside occurring in colorless prisms.

DOSE.--Of the ground seeds, horses and cattle, 1 to 2 dr.; sheep, 20 to 40 gr.; pigs, 10 to 20 gr.; dogs, 1 to 2 gr.

PREPARATIONS

EXTRACTUM NUCIS VOMICAE--EXTRACT OF NUX VOMICA

Made by maceration with alcohol, water and acetic acid; percolation with alcohol and water and evaporation. Standardized to contain 5 per cent of strychnine.

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, 5 to 15 gr.; sheep, 2 to 5 gr.; pigs, 1 to 2 gr.; dogs, ¹⁄₈ to ¹⁄₄ gr.

FLUIDEXTRACTUM NUCIS VOMICAE--FLUIDEXTRACT OF NUX VOMICA

Made by digestion and percolation with alcohol and water and acetic acid. The alcohol is distilled off and the solution evaporated. Alcohol and water are added so that the fluid extract shall contain one per cent of strychnine.

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, 1 to 2 dr.; sheep, 20 to 30 m.; pigs, 10 to 20 m.; dogs, 1 to 2 m.

TINCTURA NUCIS VOMICAE--TINCTURE OF NUX VOMICA

Made by solution of the extract of nux vomica, 20 in alcohol, and water to make 1000. Standardized to contain 0.1 per cent strychnine.

STRYCHNINA--STRYCHNINE

An alkaloid obtained from nux vomica, and also obtainable from other plants of the natural order Loganiaceae.

DERIVATION.--Nux vomica seeds are powdered and strychnine is extracted with water acidulated with hydrochloric acid. The solution is concentrated and strychnine precipitated with lime. It is then redissolved in boiling alcohol and the crystals are deposited upon concentration of the solution.

PROPERTIES.--Colorless, transparent, prismatic crystals, or a white crystalline powder; odorless, having an intensely bitter taste, perceptible even in solutions of 1 in 700,000. Strychnine should be tasted with extreme caution. Permanent in the air, soluble in water, alcohol, ether, chloroform, benzine and amyl alcohol.

DOSE.--Same as strychnine sulphate.

STRYCHNINAE SULPHAS--STRYCHNINE SULPHATE

Made by the action of sulphuric acid on strychnine.

PROPERTIES.--Colorless or white, prismatic crystals, odorless and having an intensely bitter taste. Efflorescent in dry air. Soluble in water and alcohol. Almost soluble in ether.

DOSE.--Horses, ¹⁄₂ to 1¹⁄₂ gr.; cattle, 1 to 3 gr.; sheep, ¹⁄₄ to ¹⁄₂ gr.; dogs, ¹⁄₁₂₀ to ¹⁄₄₀ gr. The small doses are to be used when strychnine is given subcutaneously.

## ACTIONS.--Nerve tonic, stomach tonic, stimulates respiration, secretion,

appetite and digestion; it increases peristalsis, stimulates both the motor and inhibitory apparatus of the heart, and raises arterial tension by stimulating the vaso-motor centers, thus contracting the arterioles, though full doses relax the arterioles and thus lower blood pressure.

Strychnine exalts all functions of the spinal cord, reflex, motor, vaso-motor and sensory, the latter being the least affected; it does not affect the brain directly.

TOXICOLOGY.--Large doses cause trembling and twitching of the voluntary and involuntary muscles with violent clonic spasms, lasting one or two minutes, gradually getting more frequent and severe in form involving the glottis, diaphragm and other muscles of respiration; causes death usually from asphyxia. Very large doses may paralyze the cord as from a blow, and cause almost instant death.

USES.--Nux vomica or strychnine is indicated in any condition in which there is a paralysis or depressed state of the nerves or nervous system; atonic dyspepsia, broken wind, relaxed condition of the bowels due to lack of tone, in small doses.

In weak condition of the heart give with small doses of digitalis; it stimulates sexual organs. Give it in convalescence from debilitating diseases, also as an aid to recovery during their progress; in collapse and for narcotic poisoning strychnine hypodermically in paralysis, whether of limbs, intestines or bladder.

In diarrhoea, due to lack of tone of muscular coat of the bowels combined with astringents; for anaemia, strychnine combined with iron and quinine; nervous coughs use strychnine with sedatives; also in incontinuence of urine and chorea, in dogs after distemper.

ANTIDOTE FOR STRYCHNINE POISONING.--Tannic acid or vegetables containing it should be freely administered, for the tannate of strychnine which is formed is very insoluble; an emetic or the stomach pump must be used promptly. The tetanic spasms are best controlled by chloral hydrate or very large doses of potassium bromide (2 dr. to ¹⁄₂ oz. for man) or 4 to 8 ounces for the horse as antidote for strychnine poisoning. Inhalations of ether are also recommended. Chloral hydrate may be used per rectum or intravenously. Inhalations of amyl nitrate are also of value. The administration of melted lard seems to exert peculiar antidotal properties to strychnine poisoning. As an emetic for dogs apomorphinae hydrochloras ¹⁄₂₀ to ¹⁄₅ grain, given hypodermically, is the best and may have to be pushed as emetics act tardily in poisoning by this drug.

OLEUM MORRHUAE--COD LIVER OIL

A fixed oil obtained from the fresh livers of cod fish.

HABITAT.--North Atlantic Ocean.

PROPERTIES.--A pale yellow, thin, oily liquid, having a peculiar slightly fishy but not rancid odor, and a bland, slightly fishy taste. Cod liver oil is often adulterated with the oil of other fish. Brown oils are not desirable therapeutically.

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

## ACTION AND USES.--Nutrient, tonic and alterative; on account of its

biliary constituents is easily emulsified and digested. It is indicated in all cases of malnutritions and where the digestive organs are weak; also in animals recovering from debilitating diseases, such as distemper and influenza. It is good in catarrh and bronchitis, as it appears to furnish suitable material for repair of the inflamed mucous membranes. Like other oils it relieves broken wind and is given to man in consumption. It is particularly used for the smaller animals. It is given to dogs and cats during distemper, also in eczema, epilepsy, chorea, rickets and chronic rheumatism.

OLEUM OLIVAE--OLIVE OIL--SWEET OIL

A fixed oil expressed from the ripe fruit of Olea europaea Linne. It should be kept in well stoppered bottles in a cool place.

HABITAT.--Southern Europe and Asia.

PROPERTIES.--A pale yellow, or light greenish-yellow, oily liquid, having a slightly peculiar odor and a nutty oleaginous taste, with a faintly acrid after-taste. Very sparingly soluble in alcohol, but readily soluble in ether and chloroform.

DOSE.--As a laxative--Horses and cattle, 1 to 2 pt.; dogs, 2 to 4 oz.

OLEUM GOSSYPII SEMINIS--COTTON SEED OIL

A fixed oil expressed from the seeds of Gossypium herbaceum Linne and of other species of Gossypium and subsequently purified.

HABITAT.--Southern United States and other semitropical countries; cultivated.

PROPERTIES.--A pale yellow, oily liquid, without odor and having a bland nut-like taste. Very sparingly soluble in alcohol, but readily soluble in ether, chloroform or carbon disulphide.

DOSE.--Same as olive oil.

## ACTION AND USES.--Both olive and cotton seed oil are laxative tonics,

demulcents and emollients. Sweet oil, not used internally to any extent, but is used externally for soothing and healing irritated wounds. It may be used in its pure state or be mixed with carbolic acid, 20 m. of the carbolic acid to 4 oz. of sweet oil.

OLEUM RICINI--CASTOR OIL

DERIVATION.--Castor oil is expressed from the seeds of a plant (Ricinus communis) which grows in the East Indies and Africa in the character of a tree and rises sometimes thirty or forty feet. It also grows in the temperate latitudes of North America and Europe.

PROPERTIES.--Pure castor oil is a thick, viscid, colorless liquid, with little or no odor and a mild though somewhat nauseous taste.

## ACTION AND USES.--Good castor oil is a mild and speedy cathartic,

usually operating within four to five hours with little griping or uneasiness, and evacuating the contents of the bowels without much increasing the alvine secretions. Hence it is particularly applicable to constipation from collections of abnormally hard faeces, and to cases in which irritating substances have been swallowed or irritating substances have accumulated in the bowels. From its mildness it is also especially adapted to diseases of the bowels, as colic, indigestion, diarrhoea, dysentery and enteritis. It is also indicated in overloaded bowels in pregnancy combined with anodynes and antispasmodics to prevent griping. Castor oil in two or three ounce doses conjoined with gruel and five or six drops of oil of peppermint is suitable for foals and calves affected with gastro-intestinal disorders. Castor oil is specially applicable in canine practice, to evacuate the bowels, and in irritated conditions of the digestive tract, in ounce doses mixed with equal parts of glycerine and adding two or three drops of oil of wintergreen.

Castor oil may be given to horses in sixteen ounce doses conjoined with oil of peppermint, twenty drops, or tincture opium, one ounce and fluidextract of belladonna, one to two drachms, flour gruel, etc.

Castor oil in one to two drachm doses is especially valuable for poultry.

Castor oil is used with equal success in the treatment of gastro-intestinal disorders of cattle, sheep and pigs.

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, 12 to 16 oz.; sheep and pigs, 2 to 6 oz.; dogs and cats, ¹⁄₂ to 2 oz.; poultry, ¹⁄₂ to 2 dr.

OLEUM TEREBINTHINAE--OIL OF TURPENTINE Erroneously Called Spirits of Turpentine

DERIVATION.--A concrete oleo-resin from Pinus palustris Miller, and from other species of Pinus. The oil is distilled, usually by the use of steam, from the oleo-resin.

HABITAT.--Southern United States, from Virginia to the Gulf of Mexico.

PROPERTIES.--A thin, colorless liquid, having a characteristic odor and taste. Soluble in three times its volume of alcohol; also soluble in an equal volume of glacial acetic acid.

DOSE.--Carminative--Horses and cattle, 1 to 2 oz.; sheep and pigs, 1 to 4 dr.; dogs, 5 to 30 m. Best given in 8 to 10 times its bulk of cotton seed oil, linseed oil or milk. Anthelmintic--Horses and cattle, 2 to 4 oz.; sheep and pigs, ¹⁄₂ to 1 oz.; dogs, ¹⁄₂ to 4 dr. Diuretic--Horses and cattle, 2 to 4 dr.

PREPARATIONS

LINIMENTUM TERBINTHINAE--TURPENTINE LINIMENT

Composed of resin cerate, 650 parts; oil of turpentine, 350 parts; melt the resin cerate and add the oil of turpentine.

OLEUM TEREBINTHINAE RECTIFICATUM--RECTIFIED OIL OF TURPENTINE

Made by slaking oil of turpentine with an equal volume of Solution of Sodium Hydroxide, and distillation.

PROPERTIES.--A thin, colorless liquid, having the same properties as oil of turpentine and should be the one used for internal use.

DERIVATIVES OF TURPENTINE

TEREBENUM--TEREBENE

Made by the action of sulphuric acid on oil of turpentine and by distillation.

PROPERTIES.--A colorless, or slightly yellowish, thin liquid, having a rather agreeable thyme-like odor, and an aromatic, somewhat terebinthinated taste. Only slightly soluble in water, but soluble in three times its volume of alcohol.

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, 2 to 4 dr.; dogs, 5 to 15 m. Dilute same as oil of turpentine.

TERPINI HYDRAS--TERPIN HYDRATE

The hydrate of the diatomic alcohol Terpin.

DERIVATION.--Rectified oil of turpentine, alcohol and nitric acid are mixed together in a shallow porcelain dish, and after three or four days terpin hydrate crystallizes out. The crystals are collected, drained, dried on absorbent paper and purified by recrystallization in alcohol.

PROPERTIES.--Colorless, crystals, odorless, having a somewhat bitter taste. Soluble in 200 parts of water, 10 parts of alcohol.

## ACTIONS.--Externally--Oil of turpentine is rubefacient, irritant and

counter-irritant; vesicant if rubbed in or confined, also a powerful antiseptic and disinfectant; is absorbed by the unbroken skin.

Internally--Is diuretic, stimulant, carminative, antispasmodic, hemostatic and anthelmintic; it is irritant, and large undiluted doses may cause gastro-enteritis and paralysis of nerve centers.

USES.--In colic, both spasmodic and flatulent; for worms, give full doses, septic fevers; gangrene of the lungs; catarrhal conditions, pneumonia and bronchitis; as a diuretic, but others not as irritant are better.

For local gangrene remove the dead tissue and then apply the turpentine direct to the affected parts by means of absorbent cotton or cloth saturated with it; the offensive odor is removed and sloughing arrested. For tape worm it is given with oleo-resin of aspidium, in oil. As an inhalation in pulmonary diseases one-half ounce is added to three quarts of boiling water. In two drachm doses every three hours, if frequently, aborts suppuration in parotiditis of horses. In purpura haemorrhagica, turpentine is a valuable medicine as a vaso-motor stimulant and diuretic, given in two drachm doses every four hours with tincture chloride of iron and linseed oil.

OLEUM TIGLII--CROTON OIL

A fixed oil expressed from the seed of Croton Tiglium Linne.

HABITAT.--Asia, India, Indian Archipelago and Philippine Islands.

PROPERTIES.--A pale yellow or brownish-yellow, somewhat viscid, and slightly fluorescent liquid, having a slight fatty odor, and a mild, oily afterwards acrid and burning taste (great caution is necessary in tasting). Specific gravity 0.935 to 0.950 at 25° C. (77° F.).

CONSTITUENTS.--Crotonoleic acid is the purgative principal. A small amount is free in the oil but it is mostly formed within the bowels. It resembles acid of castor oil in its chemistry; crotonol is a non-purgative body causing irritation of the skin; tiglinic acid and other volatile acids existing as glycerides and accounting for the odor of croton oil; it also contains free and combined fatty acids.

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