COMPARATIVE DRUG SELECTION


Occasionally, in dogs, one runs into cases of diarrhoea with state if great prostration. the stools are putrid and during sleep they are involuntary and are accompanied by eructations and flatus, smelling like sulphuretted hydrogen. It is sometimes valuable in the diarrhoea of low fevers and in haemorrhage from the bowels during distemper.


This is another wonderful remedy,the virtues of which have not been recognized by the allopathic fraternity. Arnica. Montana is a perennial growing in the mountainous parts of Central and Southern Europe,. and also in Asia and America. My old mentor, Finally Dun, gives it a mere passing mention in his work in Veterinary Medicine. Under a Actions and Uses he says of t: Arnica is irritant and Uses he says of it: Arnica is irritate stimulant has been credited with alternative properties,and is used externally as a stimulant for strains, bruises and wounds. He mentions that “Viborg gave a horse six drachms of the flowers in infusion”, and records production of quickened circulations diuresis. Williams recommends one or two ounces of the tincture in pulmonary congestion and lymphangitis in horses,stating that it stimulates cutaneous circulation. Dun winds up by saying, z”It is a favorite homoeopathic remedy”.

Its use in mechanical injuries has come to be associated with homoeopathy, but it was known in Germany before Hahnemann was born. the only credit homoeopathy can claim is to an injury what Aconite is to a chill. It will almost infallibly neutralize ill effects if given before organic mischief had been set up, and, as with Aconite,we must not be too ready to assume that the time forgiving it has gone by. the parts specially involved in mechanical injuries are the muscles, and on these Arnica specially acts. Above all things a myotic: the main remedy for myalgia; over -exertion f healthy muscles,or the normal use of weak muscles; pleurodynia, known as spurious pleurisy, which may be readily induced by over exertion; this must be distinguished from muscular rheumatism, which yields to other remedies.

Though it affects the muscles chiefly,it checks the haemorrhage attending violence, as in epistaxis from a blow,hemoptysis from coughing, it obviates danger from concussion of the brain; it covers the while effects of the injury attending violence.

For external injury, it may be used locally as well as internally. It produces in some constitutions cutaneous eruption of very fine vesicles on an erythematous base with much heat and itching, hence it might be considered in the line of a preventive and curative agent against erysipelas; it also is useful for chronic congestive vertigo;l for dysentery, tormina and tenesmus. It checks suppuration. As an antidote against mechanical violence Arnica is almost unique, but in some points is resembled by has tox.and Hypericum,. In action on the muscles it resembles Bryonia and Actaea and as a cutaneous irritant it is allied to Rhus tox.and Croton.

Hurndall states: “Whatever be the character of the injury, whether contusion sprain, strain dislocation or fracture,so long as it is due to mechanical violence,Arnica externally and internally administered is the sheet anchor upon which to rely”. In repairing a lotion for external use mix one ounce of the tincture with fifteen ounces of distilled water. It is,however,not wise to use Arnica in injuries where the skin is broken as it is likely to set up erysipelas.

In racing dogs, which are much in evidence these days,Arnica is a very valuable agent internally a nd externally where one has exhaustion of muscles after a hard days racing. Such a condition frequently is presented and by proper and careful measure,promptly is presented and by proper and careful measures, promptly carried into action, much can be done to obviate this.,Immediately the dog is through he should be walked to his kennel;, put in a warm bath at 100 degrees. F., in which he should be allowed to remain ten minutes with coarse towels and arnica lotion well rubbed in to the principal muscles of the loins, thighs,shoulders,and ars.

Give Arnica, every hour, internally; clothe the animal well, provide him with a soft warm bed and keep him protected from cool air. At least five or six doses of the ARnica,as before mentioned,should be given at hourly intervals, before he is left for the night. In the morning a little walking exercise before renewing racing wild find the doing in perfect trim., the use of Arnica in horses after a hard days work in the hunting field is also most beneficial. The hand rubbing of tired tendons with Arnica lotion, until dry,then a bandage lightly applied, together with a few hourly doses of the remedy internally will bring great comfort to the leg-weary and generally tired animal.

Arnica has a pronounced effect upon the blood where there is a general tendency to disorganization,. with he resulting haemorrhage of dare venous blood; and it is to be thought of not only for the condition that result in easy bleeding, but also as a remedy to hasten the absorption of the blood for example, in apoplexy,haemorrhage in the conjunctiva or retina in dogs or other animals, and in purpura haemorrhagica in horses.

Occasionally, in dogs, one runs into cases of diarrhoea with state if great prostration. the stools are putrid and during sleep they are involuntary and are accompanied by eructations and flatus, smelling like sulphuretted hydrogen. It is sometimes valuable in the diarrhoea of low fevers and in haemorrhage from the bowels during distemper. In eczema and psoriasis Deschere says that “Arnica is not to be forgotten where the eruption in one part on the opposite side of the body.” Dearborn also draws attention to the fact that symmetry, in these conditions, has been found to be a very good indication for Arnica.

In closing it may be said in veterinary practice in which results of mechanical violence have to be so often treated. The consequences resulting either to the part injured,m or to the constitution generally, from strains, blows, falls, thrusts, bruises, etc., are happily met by Arnica. For the muscular pain and lameness following severe or long-continued exertion, as after racing,hunting, etc., Arnica is highly beneficial.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CAL.

H.B.F. Jervis