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TOPICAL REMEDIES.

and that it should not be injected into any large vessel ; hence
for hypodermic injections a locality should be selected free from
nerves, veins, or large vessels, and not the same locality in subse-
quent injections. The medicinal agents used for hypodermic in-
jections are now prepared in the form of tablets which are per-
fectly soluble, and of considerable strength in small bulk. They
are dissolved in pure or distilled water at the time the injection is
to be made, and great accuracy is thus obtained. Anodynes thus
used are more rapid in their effect, and the general rule as re-
gards the quantity is, that in first injections the dose should be,
for males, two-thirds of the ordinary dose by the stomach and
for females about one-half. It is very necessary that a vein or
large vessel should not be punctured when introducing the point
of the syringe. The insertion of the deltoid muscle in the arm
is generally selected as the place of injection, and the needle-
point of the syringe should not be inserted too deep nor at the
same point in subsequent injections. Hypodermic injections
may also be made in the back, front of thigh — ^just in front of
trochanters, and in the calf of the leg. A graduated syringe is
required, and the point of the needle pushed through the skin, or
mucous membrane until it works easily in the tissues beneath
;
then inject slowly, and when withdrawing the point, press the
finger firmly over the puncture for a minute, to prevent the fluid
escaping. The effects of a medicine are much more rapidly ob-
tained by the hypodermic method than when administered by the
mouth. In dental practice this method is employed for the relief
of neuralgia, and the pain attending the extraction of teeth ; also
for the administration of ergot in cases of alveolar hemorrhage.
There are two dangers from hypodermic injection—the needle
may enter a vein and the entire dose may be carried at once to
the vital centres,—the solution or needle used may not be sterile
and an abscess be produced.
Counter-irritants.-—Medicinal substances of the classes of rube-
facients and epispastics are employed as counter-irritants^ their
effect being to establish external or artificial irritation for the re-
lief or cure of internal inflammation existing in a part or in the
body. The extent and character of the counter-irritation thus
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