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tary canal actings as a sedative and anaesthetic on the 

 mucons menil)ranes. Small doses depress the heart 

 b}' stimnlating the vagus centre in the medulla; large 

 doses stimulate the vagus centre and depress the heart 

 by acting directly on it, paralyzing it almost instantly. 

 The va so-motor centre is paralyzed and blood pressure 

 falls very low. 



The respiratory centre is paralyzed usually before 

 the cardiac or vasomotor centres. Toxic doses produce 

 insensibility and coma; in animals convulsions may oc- 

 cur. Large dose paralyze the peripheral nerves and 

 the voluntary muscles. Shortly before death the spinal 

 cord is paralyzed. The pupils are dilated. In brief, 

 hydrocyanic acid quickly depresses respirations, the 

 pulse or heart action and blood pressure, and paralyzes 

 the muscles and nerves of the limbs; depresses the ac- 

 tion of the alimentary canal and dilates the pupil. In 

 many cases these actions are so quick that there is no 

 time to give antidotes or treatment. Drowsiness, run- 

 ning at eyes, twitching of the muscles, staggering gait, 

 inability to stand, involuntary passing of urine and 

 feces, dilated pupils, frothing at the mouth — are given 

 by Peters as the prominent .symptoms. 



In cases where time is given for Tkeatment give a 

 stimulant of 1 to 4 ounces of brandy, whiskey, or diluted 

 alcohol or ether. When the animal can not swallow, 

 give the drug per rectum or hypodermically. Stimulate 

 respiration by holding dilute ammonia to the nose and 

 by giving one-half grain doses of strychnine hyix)der- 

 mically once every three or four hours. 



As soon as the animal can swallow give cow or ox 1 

 quart of melted lard (not too hot), or 1 quart or raw 

 linseed oil and 1 pint of syrup diluted with 1 pint of 

 water. If cow begins to swell from the formation of 

 gas by fermentation in the stomach and intestines, give 

 ^ ounce of creolin in 1 quart of water. Do not repeat 

 purgatives under twenty-four hours. Sheep and calves 



