The Pulse of Animals.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1794, 5 January 1884, Page 6

The Pulse of Animals.

In horses the pulse at rest beats forty times, in an ox from fifty to fifty-five, and in sheep and pigs about seventy to eighty beats per minute. It may be felt wherever a laige aitery crosses a bone, for instance. It te generally examined in the horso on the cord which crosses over the bone of the lower jaw in front of its curved position, or in the bony ridge above the eye; and in cattle over themiddle of the first rib, and in sheep by placing the hand on the left side, -where the beating o£ the heart may be felt. Any material variation of the pulse from <he figare3 given above may be considered a sign of disease. If rapid, hard, and full, it is an indication of high fever or inflammation ; if rapid, small, and week, low fever, lpsa of blood, or weakness. If slow, the probabilities point to brain disease, and if irregular, to heart troubles. This is one of the principal and sure tests of the health o£ an animal. — Scientific American.

Menthol versus Pain. By D. M. Cammann, M.D., New York. "Wnr.N the temperature of tlie oil of peppermint is lowered sufficiently, it depssits small, colorless, prismatic crystals. These are called peppermint camphor, or menthol. Menthol is only slightly soluble in water, but dissolves readily in alcohol or ether, and in oils both fixed and volatile. Until lately it has nut been used in therapeutics, but strong oil of peppermint painted over the part has long been a favorite method of treatment in China for gout and neuralgia. Menthol has antiseptic properties similar to thymol, In a letter to Tlie Lancet, Mr. Macdonald, a student at Edinburgh, records the use of menthol in a solution of one part to sixty of rectified Bpirits, in cases of facial neuralgia, Bnd writes, " relief was had in from two to four minutes, and within one or two minntes at most, after this, the thon existing attack was cured." He also recommends the application of the crystals on cotton in cases of toothache. In all my cases the following formula was used : R. Menthol 1 drachm. Alcohol | oz. M. It may be painted on the part several times daily with a camel's hair brush. No precautions are necessary in its use, except to keep the solution from the oyes. It is rather agreeable than otherwise, except when applied over a large surface it may cause a feeling of chilliness. Several of my patienta now keep it always at hand, and apply it -when they feel an attack coming on. One of my casos was a boy, seventeen years of age, who had suffered with intermittent fever. At the time of examination he had had no chills for several weeks, but since they had ceased he suffered with sereie pains over the spleen, from which he was never entirely free. The spleen was found to be enlarged. He was told to paint the side with tincture of iodine. In a few days he returned, sayiDg the pains were no better. Menthol was thea prescribed. A few days after, the pain had entirely disappeared. Another case is of a lady who has bad facial neuralgia for several years. She has tried many duigs, including chloral hydrate, bromide of potassium, quinine, and chloroform liniment externally. She ia always benefited by quinine. During the last attack she used quinine, and also menthol. She recovered more rapidly than from former attacks, the psin disappearing in a short time. She was surprised herself at the rapidity o£ her recovery. In addition to the above I have used menthol in cases of lumbago, facial neuralgia fugitive chest pains of pulmonary phthisis, intercostal neuralgia, pleurodynia, gastralgia. In all the cases in which internal medication was beneficial, menthol seemed to hasten its action ; in some cases in which both external and internal remedies had been without avail menthol gave relief. In some cases it has failed, but I have been surprised to see that sometimes very obstinate cases have yielded to its influence. It has actod well where tincture of iodine, chloroform liniment, and other local applications have failed. Nor in many cases is the lesult only temporary ; the pain may return after the first two or three applications, but if the treatment be persisted in for a few days a cure may be often effected, It seems, then, that in menthol we have a drug of considerable value in some of the less dangerous but most troublesome ills that flesh is heir to. — Medical Record.