Composed of rhubarb, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Dose.—Calves, 2 dr. to 1 oz.; foals, 2 to 6 dr.; sheep, 4 dr. to 1 oz.; lambs, 1⁄2 to 2 dr.; dogs, 1⁄2 to 3 dr.
Action and Uses.—Rhubarb is a stomachic, tonic, astringent, mildly cathartic and cholagogue. Rhubarb is useful where there is a lack of tone to the bowels; used in diarrhoea in small doses, for its stimulating tonic action; as a laxative in large doses or may be combined with other laxatives, to prevent griping in milk-fed animals, or may be combined with bismuth, opium or sulphuric acid, to stop diarrhoea; as a laxative or purgative. The fluidextract or powdered root may be combined with calomel, jalap, etc.
SALICINUM—SALICIN
A neutral principle (glucoside) obtained from several species of the willow and poplar tree.
Habitat.—Europe, but cultivated in North America.
Derivation.—Obtained from a decoction of willow bark. Salicin crystallizes on evaporation, after removal of tannin by agitation with lead oxide. It is purified by repeated solution and crystallization.
Properties.—A white, silky, shining crystalline needle, or colorless crystalline powder; odorless, and having a very bitter taste. Permanent in air. Soluble in 28 parts of water and 30 parts of alcohol.
Dose.—Horses and cattle, 2 dr. to 1 oz.; sheep, 1 to 4 dr.; pigs, 1⁄2 to 1 dr.; dogs, 5 to 30 gr.
Actions.—Bitter tonic, antipyretic, antiferment and antiseptic, somewhat antiperiodic resembling quinine in its actions, but not as powerful.